In 2019, the U.S. Gymnastics Championships return to Kansas City, Mo., for the first time since 1987. Held Aug. 8-11 at Sprint Center, the four-day championships features the country’s best gymnasts vying for national titles and national team berths.
A part of the Team USA Champions Series, presented by Xfinity, the U.S. Championships determines the men’s and women’s U.S. champions and U.S. National Team for the junior and senior elite levels.
The U.S. Championships also traditionally serve as part of the selection process for the U.S. Team for the World Championships. Additionally, the USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show will be held at the Kansas City Convention Center, Aug. 8-11, in conjunction with the championships.
“The 2019 U.S. Championships is really the first step on the road to Tokyo and the 2020 Olympic Games for men’s and women’s gymnastics,” said David C. Rudd, vice chair of the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors. “For the first time in more than 30 years, Kansas City sports fans will have the opportunity to see in person America’s best gymnasts who are in the mix to represent the United States at the Olympics.
“Also, nearly 3,000 coaches, judges, gym club owners and administrators will be in town to attend educational seminars at Congress, as well as enjoy the competition,” said Rudd. “Kansas City is known for its sports fans, and we hope they will come to Sprint Center to cheer our athletes who are pursuing their dreams.”
“Sprint Center is excited to host athletes and fans from across the country at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships,” said Brenda Tinnen, Sprint Center general manager and senior vice president. “It is a privilege to welcome America’s best gymnasts to the heartland and showcase Kansas City’s passion for world-class sports and entertainment.”
At the 2018 U.S. Championships, both 2016 Olympic all-around champion Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, and two-time Olympian Sam Mikulak of Newport Coast, Calif./U.S. Olympic Training Center, won their fifth U.S. women’s and men’s all-around titles, respectively. USA Gymnastics is partnering with the Kansas City Sports Commission for the 2019 event, with support from Visit KC and Sprint Center.Tickets are expected to go on sale to the general public later this fall.
“We are incredibly excited to have been chosen to host such a prestigious national sporting event,” says Kathy Nelson, president and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission. “Kansas City will most definitely deliver an unparalleled experience for athletes, coaches, administrators, trade show attendees, volunteers and fans alike.”
Visit KC President and CEO Jason Fulvi said, “High-caliber sporting events such as this are a tremendous benefit for Kansas City, driving vast economic impacts for hotels, restaurants, attractions and other service industries. From lodging and Sprint Center experience to after-event entertainment, local culture and the free-to-ride KC Streetcar, it’s clear that athletes and attendees will find KC to be an incredibly convenient, accommodating and authentic destination.”
The preliminary competition schedule, which is subject to change, for the four days is below. All times are Central.
Thursday, August 8: Men’s gymnastics – 1 p.m., juniors, and 6:30 p.m., seniors
Friday, August 9: Women’s gymnastics – 1 p.m., juniors, and 6:30 p.m., seniors
Saturday, August 10: Men’s gymnastics – 1 p.m., juniors, and 6:30 p.m., seniors
Sunday, August 11: Women’s gymnastics – 1 p.m., juniors, and 6:30 p.m., seniors
The roster of former U.S. all-around champions is a veritable who's who of gymnastics, including: women – Jordyn Wieber, Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, Carly Patterson, Courtney Kupets, Shannon Miller, Dominique Dawes, Kim Zmeskal and Mary Lou Retton; and men –Jonathan Horton, Paul Hamm, Blaine Wilson, John Roethlisberger, Mitch Gaylord, Peter Vidmar and Bart Conner. The U.S. Gymnastics Championships traces its history back to 1897 for the men and 1931 for the women.
The 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships is part of the 2019 Team USA Champions Series, presented by Xfinity. The champions series showcases numerous Olympic sports throughout the season, highlighting the year-round quest of Team USA athletes to compete at the Olympic Games.
Sprint Center played host to both the 2012 and 2016 Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions. Kansas City has also staged other gymnastics events, including the final selection event for trampoline for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Held at the Kansas City Convention Center, the annual USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show provides a valuable opportunity for gymnastics professional around the country to attend educational presentations, as well as a number of live demonstrations, on a variety of topics, including coaching, judging, business, preschool, school-age/recreational, sports science, fitness and safe sport and more. Attendees also receive admittance to the trade show hall where they can visit vendor booths that provide specific goods and services to the gymnastics community.
Background information
Sprint Center. Sprint Center is Kansas City’s home for live entertainment and sporting events. Anchor to more than $6 billion of reinvestment in a revitalized downtown Kansas City, the award winning venue has welcomed more than 11 million guests and generated more than $1.01 billion in economic activity since opening in 2007. Having exceeded attendance and financial projections in each year of operation, Sprint Center annually hosts more than 100 ticketed events and is a unique public/private partnership between AEG and the City of Kansas City, Mo.
Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation. The mission of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation is to drive Kansas City’s overall sports strategy, to enrich the quality of life, create economic impact and raise visibility for our region, with the vision of making a better Kansas City through Sports. For the latest on Kansas City Sports Commission news, follow on Twitter, Facebook Instagram and YouTube. Also, follow the Kansas City Marathon presented by Garmin on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. www.sportkc.org.
USA Gymnastics. Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has already taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, log on to usagym.org.
Visit KC. Visit KC is a non-profit organization whose mission is to ignite global passion for visiting Kansas City. Through marketing, sales and service of the convention and tourism industries, Visit KC supports a vital and growing component of the local economy—generating nearly 48,000 jobs and $5.5 billion in economic impact annually. For more information about Kansas City, go to VisitKC.com.
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