Final Details Announced for 2018 GK U.S. Classic in Ohio

The senior field for the 2018 GK U.S. Classic, scheduled for July 28 at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, features several World, Olympic and U.S. champions and medalists. 

Among those expected to compete are reigning World all-around champion Morgan Hurd of Middletown, Del./First State Gymnastics, Olympic all-around champion Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, and U.S. all-around champion and 2016 Olympic alternate Ragan Smith of Lewisville, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics, along with 2017 World vault and floor exercise silver-medalist Jade Carey of Phoenix, Ariz./Arizona Sunrays.

The GK U.S. Classic is the last opportunity for female gymnasts to qualify for the 2018 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, the national championships for men’s and women’s gymnastics.Gymnasts who have already qualified to nationals use the GK U.S. Classic as a final tune-up for the U.S. Gymnastics Championships. 

The Schottenstein Center, in partnership with the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, is playing host to two events.  On Saturday, July 28, the GK U.S. Classichas athletes competing on the junior level at 1:30 p.m. ET and the senior level at 7:30 p.m. ET. The GK Hopes Championships, which features young, aspiring female gymnasts who are just below the elite level, is slated for July 27 at 2:30 p.m. ET. 

Other members of the U.S. National Team who are registered to compete as seniors are listed below. 

• Jordan Chiles of Vancouver, Wash./Naydenov Gymnastics, the all-around bronze medalist at the World Cup in Stuttgart, Germany; senior.

• Audrey Davis of Frisco, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, sixth in the junior all-around at the 2017 U.S. Championships; junior national team competing as a senior.

• Kara Eaker of Grain Valley, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express, 2017 U.S. junior balance beam champion; junior national team competing as a senior.

• Emma Malabuyo of Flower Mound, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics, 2017 U.S. junior floor exercise champion; junior national team competing as a senior.

• Grace McCallum of Isanti, Minn./Twin City Twisters, 2018 Pacific Rim all-around champion; senior.

• Riley McCusker of Brielle, N.J./MG Elite, 2017 U.S. uneven bars champion; senior.

2018 Pacific Rim and Junior Pan American Championships junior all-around champion Jordan Bowers of Lincoln, Neb./Solid Rock Gymnastics, headlines the junior field.  The remaining junior national team members expected to compete are: Sydney Barros of Lewisville, Texas; Kayla DiCello of Boyds, Md./Hill’s Gymnastics; Sunisa Lee of St. Paul, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center; JaFree Scott of Independence, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express; Tori Tatum of Chanhassen, Minn./Twin City Twisters; and Leanne Wong of Overland, Kansas/Great American Gymnastics Express.

2018 Hopes Classic all-around champions Ava San Jose of Chatsworth, Calif./Paramount Elite Gymnastics (10-11-year-old division) and Mya Witte of Greenacres, Fla./Genie's Gymnastics (12-13-year-old division), headline the field for the GK Hopes Championships. The GK Hopes Championships has two age groups, 10-11 year-olds and 12-13 year-olds. The top 18 from each age group at the Hopes Classic qualified to the GK Hopes Championships, assuming each athlete achieved a minimum qualifying score.  The GK Hopes Championships is the culmination of the Hopes season.

Single session tickets for the GK U.S. Classic on July 28 are $35-$45 for the junior session at 1:30 p.m. and $39-$59 for the senior session at 7:30 p.m. All times are Eastern and subject to change. The GK Hopes Championships takes place Friday, July 27, the day prior to the GK U.S. Classic, and tickets range from $20-$30. All-session ticket packages, which include admission to the junior and senior elite sessions along with the GK Hopes Championships, are still available and range from $79-$129. Ticket prices vary according to competition session and seat location. Ticket prices listed here do not include applicable service charges. Tickets may be purchased at the Box Office, ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

GK Elite, a long-time partner of USA Gymnastics, recently became the title sponsor for the GK U.S. Classic and the GK Hopes Championships. 

Columbus has held the 2012 and 2016 post-Olympic tour, as well as the 1992 U.S. Championships.

For more information, go to gkusclassic.com.

Background information

• GK – Elite Sportswear. Elite Sportswear is the combination of the worlds’ leading sports specialty apparel brands including, GK Gymnastics, Dreamlight Gymnastics, All Star Cheer, Omni Cheer and Dolfin Swimwear. Distributed in over 35 countries, Elite Sportswear products have been worn by Olympians and World champions for over 35 years. Employing over 500 people between two locations in Reading, Pa. and San Diego, Calif., Elite Sportswear continues its commitment to American-made quality and continuous innovation in designs with unprecedented fit, form and function. For more information about Elite Sportswear, visit www.gkelite.com.

• Schottenstein Center.  Located on the campus of The Ohio State University, the Schottenstein Center is a 770,000 square-foot multipurpose venue.  Home to the men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s basketball Buckeyes, it is the largest arena in the Big Ten.  Averaging over 1 million guests per year, the building has hosted The Rolling Stones, Ohio High School Athletic Association state championships in wrestling and girls and boys basketball, The Frozen Four and the McDonald’s All-American basketball game amongst a variety of sporting and special events.  A nationally recognized sports and entertainment center, the Schott continues a tradition of making memories.

• Greater Columbus Sports Commission. Since 2002, the Greater Columbus Sports Commission has been a catalyst in transforming Columbus into one of the world’s best sports destinations, booking 427 new sporting events for the Columbus Region and generating an estimated $535 million in visitor spending. Our mission is to rally Columbus to compete and win sporting events, providing a singular athlete and fan experience and positively impacting our image, economy and lifestyle. For more information, visit columbussports.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 empowers 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.