Let's get ready to tumble.
This week, the U.S. Gymnastics Championships are being held at Temple's Liacouras Center and McGonigle Hall. The four-day event began yesterday, and will conclude this Saturday with the women's senior division finals.
"USA Gymnastics is pleased to bring our most prestigious national event to Philadelphia," USA Gymnastics President Bob Colarossi said in a statement. "We look forward to an exciting gymnastics competition in a great sports town."
Approximately 200 of the nation's best gymnasts will be competing for spots on the 2001 World Championship Teams, as well as the 2001-2002 Senior and Junior National Teams which will represent America in international meets.
This competition determines the national champion in both all-around and individual event finals in both artistic and rhythmic gymnastics.
Those who are expected to compete include 2000 Olympians Sean Townsend (Houston, Texas), Stephen McCain (Houston, Texas) and Tasha Schwikert (Las Vegas, Nev.), as well as two-time defending rhythmic national champion Jessica Howard (Jacksonville, Fla.) and two-time defending junior national champion Kristal Uzelac (Johnstown, Pa.).
Other top performers will be participating in a limited number of events in order to remain eligible for a spot on the World Championship Team.
The 2001 World Gymnastics Championships for rhythmic gymnastics is set for October 17-21 in Vienna, Austria, and October 28-November 4 in Ghent, Belgium, for artistic gymnastics.
The U.S. Gymnastics Championships will be televised on NBC Sports for an hour each on August 11 and 12 and September 2.
For more immediate coverage, the USA Gymnastics website will be offering `Quick Hits', which allows users to follow the competition live. This service will be available for the men's and women's artistic competitions, and scores will be updated on the website after each round, when possible.
Also taking place this Saturday in conjunction with the U.S. Gymnastics Championships and the annual USA Gymnastics Congress meeting is an induction ceremony for the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Former Olympians Philip Cahoy, Lance Ringnald, Andrea Schmid Shapiro and Kim Zmeskal Burdette are among those who will be inducted.
Two lifetime achievement awards will also be given out to two men -- Frank Endo, who has facilitated many tours and exhibitions between Japan and the U.S., and Jerry Wright, who is considered the founding father of the Men's National Gymnastics Judges Association.
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