2016 Pacific Rim Championships

Douglas, Nichols To AT&T American Cup, Biles To Pacific Rim Championships

Douglas, Nichols To AT&T American Cup, Biles To Pacific Rim Championships

2012 Olympic all-around champion Gabby Douglas and 2015 World medalist Maggie Nichols have accepted invitations to compete at the 2016 AT&T American Cup, ac

Dec 17, 2015 by Becca Reed
Douglas, Nichols To AT&T American Cup, Biles To Pacific Rim Championships
2012 Olympic all-around champion Gabby Douglas and 2015 World medalist Maggie Nichols have accepted invitations to compete at the 2016 AT&T American Cup, according to a press release by USA Gymnastics. 2012 Olympian Sam Mikulak and two-time World medalist Donnell Whittenburg will represent the U.S. men. The competition is part of the International Gymnastics FederationÂ’s all-around World Cup series and will be held March 5 in Newark, N.J.

Three-time World all-around champion Simone Biles has been selected to compete at the 2016 Pacific Rim Championships April 8-10 in Everett, WA. The rest of team USA for Pac Rims has not yet been announced.

“2016 is going to be an important year for USA Gymnastics and all of our athletes,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “We are Rio Ready and looking forward to some exciting moments throughout the journey. The AT&T American Cup and Pacific Rim Championships are important events on our calendar and will be true showcases for some of the world's best gymnasts."

Douglas made a successful comeback in 2015 after more than two years away from the competition floor. She started off with a solid performance at the City of Jesolo Trophy in March and topped off her year with an all-around silver medal at the World Championships in October. 

Nichols also had an extremely successful 2015 ending with the World Championships where she helped USA win the team gold and won an individual bronze on floor. 

Biles had yet another record breaking 2015 and following her golden performance at Worlds, she became the most decorated American female gymnast in World Championships history, with a total of 14 medals. She also has the most world gold medals out of any female gymnast in history with her total of 10.

The AT&T American Cup is a one-day all-around competition. Invitations to compete in the 2016 AT&T American Cup are based on performances at the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. Biles and the UkraineÂ’s Oleg Verniaiev won the titles at the 2015 AT&T American Cup.

The Pacific Rim Championships is a three-day event expected to feature approximately 300 gymnasts from more than 14 Pac Rim countries, competing in menÂ’s and womenÂ’s gymnastics, trampoline and rhythmic gymnastics. This competition is held every other year and in 2014, USA won gold as a team for women and men. USA's Elizabeth Price and USA's John Orozco won all-around gold for the senior division and USA's Bailie Key and Japan's Kakeru Tanigawa won all-around golds for the junior division.

The international field for the AT&T American Cup and the remaining U.S. athletes and the international field for the Pac Rim Championships will be announced in 2016.