Newark’s Prudential Center will host both the Nastia Liukin Cup and, on the following day, the 2016 AT&T American Cup, an International Gymnastics Federation World Cup event, which will feature some of the world’s biggest names in gymnastics.
The 36 participants in the Nastia Liukin Cup are selected through the Nastia Liukin Cup Series, which features 25 of the country's top gymnastics invitationals held throughout the United States. The Nastia Liukin Cup Series kicks off on Jan. 8, with three invitationals, and the final Nastia Liukin Cup qualifiers will be determined at five invitationals held just three weeks before the Nastia Liukin Cup. The invitationals participating in the Cup Series are listed below with the number of qualifiers in parentheses.
Atlanta Crown Invitational, Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 8-10 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)
Let Us Take You to Rio, Dimondale, Mich., Jan 8-10 (1 Jr.)
Legacy Elite Winter Classic, Chicago, Ill., Jan 8-10 (1 Sr.)
Brestyan's Invitational, Medford, Mass., Jan. 15-17 (1 Jr.)
CGA Coaches' Spectacular, Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 15-17 (1 Sr.)
Lady Luck Invitational, Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 15-17 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)
Star Struck Invitational, Atlantic City, N.J., Jan. 15-17 (1 Sr.)
Tampa Bay Turners Invitational, Bradenton, Fla., Jan. 15-17 (1 Jr.)
Texas Prime, Irving, Texas, Jan. 15-17 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)
Alamo Classic, San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 22-24 (1 Jr.)
Sand Dollar Invitational, Orlando, Fla., Jan. 22-24 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)
Chow's Challenge, Galveston, Texas, Jan. 29-31 (1 Jr.)
Fiesta Bowl, Chandler, Ariz., Jan. 29-31 (1 Sr.)
Wisconsin Dells Gymnastics Vacation Classic, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Jan. 29-31 (1 Sr.)
Circle of Stars, Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 30-Feb. 1 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)
Classic Rock Invitational, Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 5-7 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)
Buckeye Classic, Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 5-7 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)
Charity Choice Invitational, Tacoma, Wash., Feb. 5-7 (1 Sr.)
Pikes Peak Cup, Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 5-7 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)
Magical Classic, Orlando, Fla., Feb. 12-13 (1 Jr.)
Chicago Style, Chicago, Ill., Feb. 12-14 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)
Excalibur Cup, Virginia Beach, Va., Feb. 12-14 (1 Jr.)
Greensboro Gymnastics Invitational, Greensboro, N.C., Feb. 12-14 (1 Sr.)
Presidential Classic, Orlando, Fla., Feb. 12-15 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)
WOGA Classic, Frisco, Texas, Feb. 13-14 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)
A total of 18 junior and 18 senior gymnasts will advance to the Nastia Liukin Cup. Senior athletes must be 16 years of age or older, and junior athletes must be 15 or younger.
Gymnasts who compete in the Nastia Liukin Cup will receive a Nastia Liukin-designed leotard and a warm-up from GK Elite; two tickets to the American Cup and recognition during the event; and the opportunity to meet Liukin and participate in a team photo.
Tickets for the Nastia Liukin Cup will go on sale this fall through gymnastics clubs participating in the AT&T American Cup discount ticket program, and will go on sale to the general public after the first of the year. For more information on tickets, please go nastialiukincup.com.
A portion of the proceeds from the Nastia Liukin Cup benefits the Nastia Liukin Fund, a charitable fund in partnership with the National Gymnastics Foundation (www.usagym.org/foundation).
Background information
Nastia Liukin. At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Liukin's total of five medals tied the U.S. gymnastics record for most medals in one Olympic Games, held by Mary Lou Retton (1984) and Shannon Miller (1992). Liukin's Olympic medals are: gold – all-around; silver – team, balance beam and uneven bars; and bronze – floor exercise. Liukin was the third of four U.S. women to win the Olympic all-around crown. She also won nine World medals in her career. Liukin has graced many magazine covers and appeared on various shows, including "Gossip Girl," "Make It or Break It," and the feature film, "Stick It." Liukin is now attending New York University in New York City, studying sports management. Also, Liukin currently serves as a gymnastics analyst for NBC Sports and was a special contributor during NBC's coverage of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. In 2012, she was a member of the creative team and a cast member for the Kellogg's Tour of Olympic Champions, a national, 40-city tour that followed the 2012 Olympic Games. Liukin was coached by her father, Valeri, who has four Olympic medals from 1988 including two gold.
AT&T American Cup. The 2016 AT&T American Cup, a FIG World Cup event, is one of the most prestigious international invitational events and features an all-around format. The list of former champions comprises some of the sport's best-known names, including Jordyn Wieber, Nastia Liukin, Jonathan Horton, Bart Conner, Paul Hamm, Shawn Johnson, Shannon Miller, Carly Patterson, Mary Lou Retton and Peter Vidmar. For more information, go to attamericancup.com.
Prudential Center. Prudential Center is a world-class sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Opened in October 2007, the state-of-the-art arena is the home of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball program, and more than 200 concerts, family shows and special events each year. Ranked in the Top 10 nationally by Pollstar, Billboard and Venue’s Today, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the premier venues in the United States, and welcomes more than two million guests annually. For more information about Prudential Center, visit PruCenter.com and Facebook, and follow @PruCenter on Twitter.
USA Gymnastics. Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and group gymnastics. For more complete information, log on to www.usagym.org.
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