USA Gymnastics Opens 2014 with Nastia Liukin Cup Series

The 2014 Nastia Liukin Cup Series, which includes 20 events in 14 states, will run from Jan. 10 to Feb. 26, 2014. As in the past, gymnasts from the invitational meets in the Series will compete in the 2014 Nastia Liukin Cup on Feb. 28, 2014, at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, N.C. The Nastia Liukin Cup is held the night before the 2014 AT&T American Cup, the most prestigious international gymnastics invitational held annually on American soil.

"The Nastia Liukin Cup Series allows USA Gymnastics to help promote the sport at the height of the Junior Olympic season," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "We are grateful for Nastia's continued partnership and the culmination of the series at the Nastia Liukin Cup provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for many of these athletes."

"It's incredible that 2014 Cup marks the fifth year of this competition," said Liukin, the 2008 Olympic all-around champion who has five Olympic and nine World medals to her credit. "The Cup and the Nastia Liukin Foundation help to provide gymnasts with this unique competitive opportunity. I cannot wait to meet the athletes and see the high level of competition throughout the Series and, ultimately, at the Cup."

The final Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier will be decided the week of the competition at the Greater Greensboro Invitational, which will be held on the same podium as the Nastia Liukin Cup and AT&T American Cup.

The Nastia Liukin Cup Series features many of the country's top gymnastics invitational meets held throughout the United States. A total of 18 junior and 18 senior gymnasts from the competitors in the Series events will advance to the Nastia Liukin Cup.

The invitational meets included in the 2014 Nastia Liukin Cup Series are  (numbers in parentheses indicate how many qualifiers will come from each invitational):

• Atlanta Crown Invitational, Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 10-12 (1 JR, 1 SR)
• Kim Zmeskal's Texas Prime Meet, Iriving, Texas, Jan. 17-19 (1 JR, 1 SR)
• Lady Luck Invitational, Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 17-19 (1 JR, 1 SR)
• CGA Coaches Spectacular, Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 17-20 (1 JR)
• Sand Dollar/Whitlow Invitational, Kissimmee, Fla., Jan. 24-26 (1 JR, 2 SR)
• Parkettes Invitational, Allentown, Pa., Jan. 25-26 (1 JR, 1 SR)
• Wisconsin Dells Gymnastics Vacation Classic, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Jan. 30 - Feb. 2 (1 JR)
• Arizona Sunrays Classic Rock Invitational, Phoenix, Ariz., Jan. 31 - Feb. 2 (1 SR)
• Circle of Stars Gymnastics Invitational, Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 31 - Feb. 2 (1 JR, 1 SR)
• Fiesta Bowl Invitational, Chandler, Ariz., Feb. 7-9 (1 JR, 1 SR)
• Gliders Invitational, Ontario, Calif., Feb. 7-9 (1 SR)
• IGI Chicago Style, Chicago, Ill., Feb. 7-9 (1 JR, 2 SR)
• Pikes Peak Cup, Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 7-9 (1 JR, 1 SR)
• WOGA Classic, Frisco, Texas, Feb. 7-9 (2 JR, 1 SR)
• Charity Choice Invitational, Tacoma, Wash., Feb. 7-10 (1 JR)
• Buckeye Classic, Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 14-16 (1 JR)
• The Magical Classic, Orlando, Fla., Feb. 14-16 (1 JR, 1 SR)
• Presidential Classic, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Feb. 14-17 (1 JR, 1 SR)
• Metroplex Challenge, Fort Worth, Texas, Feb. 15-16 (1 JR, 1 SR)
• Greensboro Gymnastics Invitational, Greensboro, N.C., Feb. 26 (1 SR)

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 AT&T American Cup and recognition during the event; and the opportunity to meet Liukin and participate in a team photo.

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).

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." She was also chosen as one of 2009's most influential women by MSN Lifestyle. Liukin is now attending New York University in New York City, studying sports management. Last fall, 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 2014 AT&T American Cup 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 www.attamericancup.com