The sixth Nastia Liukin Cup will take place on its biggest stage yet, the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 6, 2015. The 2015 event, started in 2010 by 2008 Olympic all-around gold-medalist Nastia Liukin, is special: not only is it being held at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, but the 2015 Nastia Liukin Cup Series also features more invitational than ever before and the Dallas area is Liukin’ s hometown. 

 

"Competing in AT&T Stadium is a once in a lifetime opportunity for any athlete,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics.  “The Nastia Liukin Cup is about making dreams come true for young gymnasts, and this year it will be no exception."

 

“Staging the Nastia Liukin Cup in Dallas, my hometown, means a lot,” Liukin said. “To have it happen in the great venue where the Cowboys play is incredible. What an awesome experience it will be for the young women competing in this year’s Cup. I am very gratified by how the Nastia Liukin Cup has grown and the unique competitive opportunity it provides the participants.”

 

The AT&T Stadium will host both the Nastia Liukin Cup and, on the following day, the 2015 AT&T American Cup, an International Gymnastics Federation World Cup event, which features some of the world’s biggest names in gymnastics.

 

The 36 participants in the Nastia Liukin Cup are selected through the Nastia Liukin Cup Series, which features 25 of the country's top gymnastics invitationals held throughout the United States. The Nastia Liukin Cup Series kicks off on Jan. 9, with two invitationals, and the final Nastia Liukin Cup qualifiers will be determined at six invitationals held just three weeks before the Nastia Liukin Cup. The invitationals participating in the Cup Series are listed below.
 

·         Atlanta Crown, Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 9-11

·         Legacy Elite Winter Classic, Chicago, Ill., Jan. 9-11

·         Brestyan's Invitational, Medford, Mass., Jan. 16-18

·         CGA Spectacular, Covington, Ky., Jan. 16-18

·         Lady Luck Invitational, Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 16-18

·         Star Struck Invitational, Atlantic City, N.J., Jan. 16-18

·         Tampa Bay Turners Invitational, Bradenton, Fla., Jan. 16-18

·         Texas Prime Meet, Irving, Texas, Jan. 16-18

·         Sand Dollar Invitational, Orlando, Fla., Jan. 23-35

·         Chow's Challenge, Galveston, Texas, Jan. 30-Feb.1

·         Circle of Stars, Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 30-Feb.1

·         Metroplex Challenge, Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 30-Feb.1

·         Wisconsin Dells Gymnastics Vacation Classic, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Jan. 30-Feb.1

·         Buckeye Classic, Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 6-8

·         Charity Choice Invitational, Tacoma, Wash., Feb. 6-8

·         Fiesta Bowl Gymnastics Meet, Chandler, Ariz., Feb. 6-8

·         Gliders Invitational, Ontario, Calif., Feb. 6-8

·         Greensboro Gymnastics Invitational, Greensboro, N.C., Feb. 6-8

·         Pikes Peak Cup, Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 6-8

·         Classic Rock Invitational, Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 13-15

·         IGI Chicago Style Meet, Chicago, Ill., Feb. 13-15

·         Excalibur Cup, Virginia Beach, Va., Feb. 13-15

·         Magical Classic Gymnastics Meet, Orlando, Fla., Feb. 13-15

·         Presidential Classic, Orlando, Fla., Feb. 13-15

·         WOGA Classic, Frisco, Texas, Feb. 13-15

 

A total of 18 junior and 18 senior gymnasts will advance to the Nastia Liukin Cup. Senior athletes must be 16 years of age or older, and junior athletes must be 15 or younger.

 

Gymnasts who compete in the Nastia Liukin Cup will receive a Nastia Liukin-designed leotard and a warm-up from GK Elite; two tickets to the American Cup and recognition during the event; and the opportunity to meet Liukin and participate in a team photo.

 

Tickets for the Nastia Liukin Cup are currently available through gymnastics clubs participating in the AT&T American Cup discount ticket program, and will go on sale to the general public after the first of the year.  For more information on tickets, please go nastialiukincup.com.

 

A portion of the proceeds from the Nastia Liukin Cup benefits the Nastia Liukin Fund, a charitable fund in partnership with the National Gymnastics Foundation (www.usagym.org/foundation).

Release via USAG