According to USA Gymnastics, 2011 World all-around champion Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich./Gedderts' Twistars USA, and 2011 World all-around finalists John Orzoco of the Bronx, N.Y./U.S. Olympic Training Center, and Aly Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan's American Gymnastics, have accepted invitations to compete in the 2012 AT&T American Cup, March 3, at Madison Square Garden in New York City to kick off the Olympic Year. 

 

This will be the third American Cup for both Wieber and Raisman. Wieber is undefeated at the event, winning all around titles in both 2009 and 2011. Raisman finished 2nd in 2010 and 3rd in 2011.

This is the first American Cup for youngster John Orozco, coming off an incredible showing at the 2011 World Championships and recently announcing his intentions to turn professional (give up his NCAA eligibility). Orozco finished 5th all around in Tokyo after sitting in 2nd place behind Kohei Uchimura during the qualification round. 

 

The American girls hope to follow in the footsteps of Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin who won both the American Cup in the Olympic year before ultimately winning Olympic all around titles. 

 

Defending men's champion Jonathan Horton will miss the event while still recovering from his foot injury sustained on vault during the World team final in October. However, he should be fully recovered and ready to go by Championships and Olympic Trials. 

 

The AT&T American Cup, will be the first event of the 2012 International Gymnastics Federation's all-around World Cup series and the international gymnasts in the field will be announced in early 2012. Invitations are based on the all-around standings from the 2011 World Championships. 

Source: USA Gymnastics and USA Today