The Anadia World Challenge Cup will be taking place this weekend, May 29th-June 1st, in Anadia, Portugal. Although it is a major stop along the annual World Cup circuit, this year’s competition is somewhat smaller and less well-attended because it follows the weekend after European Championships. Still, top male and female gymnasts from 24 nations will take to the competition floor to compete for individual event titles. There will not be any team or all-around prizes awarded.
 

A preliminary list of competitors included big names on both the men’s and women’s sides. Among the top male athletes to watch this weekend are Team USA’s Sam Mikulak, Alex Naddour, and Eddie Penev. Mikulak has had a strong season both in NCAA and elite competition, including the team and individual NCAA all-around titles and the American Cup title. He will be competing on all six apparatuses in Anadia. Meanwhile Naddour will show off his specialty on pommel horse and still rings, and Penev will compete on floor, rings, vault, and high bar. Diego Hypolito (BRA), the well-seasoned Brazilian gymnast known for his power, will also be competing on his two signature events, floor and vault. Germany’s roster includes Matthias Fahrig, 2013 World Championships team member, on floor and vault as well. Another noteworthy competitor on rings and vault is Tomi Tuuha (FIN), who is coming right off of his 4th place finish on vault at the European Championships.
 

On the women’s side, Noemi Makra (HUN) is also coming to Anadia directly from Sofia, where she qualified to the vault finals and finished in eighth place. She will be competing on all four women’s apparatuses, as will 2012 Olympians Jessica Lopez (VEN) and veteran Oksana Chusovitina (UZB).
 

The competition schedule is as follows:
 

• Thursday, May 29th: Qualification I

o Women’s VT, UB

o Men’s FX, PH, SR

 

• Friday, May 30th: Qualification II

o Women’s BB, FX

o Men’s VT, PB, HB

 

• Saturday, June 1st: Final I

o Women’s VT, UB

o Men’s FX, PH, SR

 

• Sunday, June 2nd: Final II

o Women’s VT, UB

o Men’s FX, PH, SR

 

According to the preliminary competitors’ list, the nations competing include: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, China, Columbia, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Spain, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Latvia, Mexico, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Slovenia, United States, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela.