GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Oct. 22, 2011 – The U.S. Women’s Team just completed podium training at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The women’s team competition, which serves as the qualification for all-around and individual event finals, is Monday, Oct. 24, and the U.S. women are competing in the second subdivision.  The men’s podium training is Sunday, Oct. 23, and will compete in the first subdivision in the men’s team finals on Oct. 25.

The members of the U.S. WomenÂ’s Team are: Bridgette Caquatto of Naperville, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC; Jessie DeZiel of Rogers, Minn./Twin City Twisters; Brandie Jay of Ft. Collins, Colo./GK Gymnastics; Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa/Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute; Grace McLaughlin of Allen, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics; and Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind./Sharp's Gymnastics Academy.

“It was so nice being on the podium today, and the girls have been doing great,” said Sloan, who was elected team captain by her teammates.  “I haven’t traveled with some of these girls so (we’re) building a new sisterhood. Being team captain is a big role for me but I have taken it head on.  All of the girls who made this Pan Am Team should be so proud.  Personally, this is the first time I’ll be doing the all-around since 2010 . . . and definitely excited to do it here.”

"I remember going to Brazil - the 2007 Pan Ams –and it being one of my favorite competitions,” said Johnson, who was a member of the 2007 gold-medal team and also won the all-around, uneven bars and balance beam titles. “Just the atmosphere of the Games, it’s like a little Olympics, and I love being here. I’m excited, because I think we have a strong team.”

The artistic gymnastics field features 114 male and female competitors from 18 differentcountries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, and Venezuela.

Competition begins on Oct. 24 with the women’s team finals (the USA competes in the second subdivision), followed by the men’s team finals on Oct. 25 (the men compete in the first subdivision). For both men’s and women’s gymnastics, performances during the team finals determine which athletes advance to the all-around finals on Oct. 26 and the individual event finals, Oct. 27-28.  There is a maximum of two athletes per country in the all-around and individual event finals.

The members of the U.S. Men’s Team are: Donothan Bailey of Lake Forest, Calif./University of California – Berkeley; C.J. Maestas of Corrales, N.M./University of Illinois; Sho Nakamori of Albany, Calif./Champions Academy; Tyler Mizoguchi of Houston, Texas/University of Illinois; Paul Ruggeri of Manlius, N.Y; and Brandon Wynn of Columbus, Ohio/Team Hilton HHonors (Ohio State University).

The competition schedule for menÂ’s and womenÂ’s gymnastics is:

Oct. 23           1 – 6:15 P.M.     Men’s podium training (U.S., Sub 1, 1 – 3:15 p.m.)
Oct. 24           1 – 6:30 P.M.     Women’s team finals; qualifications for all- around, individual event finals (U.S., Sub 2, 4 – 6:30 p.m.), followed by team medal ceremony
Oct. 25           1 – 6:30 P.M.     Men’s team finals; qualifications for all- around, individual event finals
                                                   (U.S., Sub 1, 1 – 3:30 p.m.); men’s team medal ceremony follows second subdivision
Oct. 26           1 – 3 P.M.           Women’s all-around finals
                       5:30 – 8 P.M.     Men’s all-around finals
Oct. 27           1 – 4 P.M.           Individual event finals
                                                   Men:  floor exercise, pommel horse still rings
                                                   Women:  vault, uneven bars
Oct. 28           1 – 4 P.M.           Individual event finals
                                                   Men:  vault, parallel bars, horizontal bar
                                                   Women:  balance beam, floor exercise

Fans can follow the action at the Pan Am Games through a variety of avenues.

·      TV broadcast

o  ESPN.ESPN Deportes, the U.S. rights holder of the 2011 Pan American Games, is showing between 90-120 hours of live and exclusive footage on Deportes, ESPN2 and ESPN3. The network has been broadcasting a minimum of three hours of live coverage featuring the top events each day and will continue to do so throughout the Closing Ceremony. Coverage will feature a wide range of competitions including baseball, basketball, boxing, soccer, swimming, track & field, volleyball and several others. Live events may not be seen in some areas and the schedule is subject to change. All listed times are Eastern. View the ESPN Deportes broadcast schedule here<http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/programming/espn-deportes-livesame-day-tape-event-schedule/>, and the schedule for ESPN 2 here<http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/programming/espn2-livesame-day-tape-event-schedule/>.

o  ESPNDeportes.com/Panamericanos<http://www.espndeportes.com/panamericanos> has the latest news and information surrounding the competitions, athletes and each country with exclusive content, video highlights, live chats with the experts on-site, and live scores.

·      Live internet streaming – Fans can watch select events live at deportes.terra.com<http://deportes.terra.com>.