Olympic Gold Medalists Alexei Nemov and Shannon Miller and Houston’s Sean Townsend, Steve McCain, Kim Zmeskal and Bela Karolyi Participating
Indianapolis – The most accomplished stars in the sport of gymnastics are headed to Houston for the 2001 Reese’s Gymnastics Cup, an entertainment style team competition on December 1 at the University of Houston’s Hofheinz Pavilion at 7 p.m.
MEN
Featured on the men’s side is showman Alexei Nemov, the 2000 Olympic Games All-Around Gold Medalist from Russia and 12-time Olympic medalist (4 gold). 2001 U.S. National Champion Sean Townsend (Houston, Texas) will join Sydney Olympic teammates Stephen McCain (Houston, Texas), John Roethlisberger (Falcon Heights, Minn.) and Paul Hamm (Waukesha, Wis.) in the competition. Townsend, McCain, and Hamm will represent the United States at the 2001 World Championships October 28-November 5 in Ghent, Belgium.
Additional participants in the Reese’s Cup are 1996 Olympian John Macready (Los Angeles, Calif.) and 1992 and 1988 Olympian Lance Ringnald (Albuquerque, N.M.).
WOMEN
Among the women’s competitors is Houston resident Shannon Miller, the most decorated U.S. gymnast in history having earned seven Olympic medals (two gold, two silver, three bronze) throughout her career. Tasha Schwikert (Las Vegas, Nev.), the newly crowned 2001 U.S. National Champion and a 2000 Olympian is expected to compete along with Russian Elena Produnova, a 2000 Olympic Games Silver Medalist. Jamie Dantzscher (Palmdale, Calif.), 2001 NCAA National Champion for UCLA and 2000 Olympian, and Mohini Bhardwaj (Los Angeles, Calif.), a 2001 World Championships Team Member and two-time NCAA National Champion for UCLA will also be featured.
“The field of competitors is among the most talented ever assembled for the Reese’s Gymnastics Cup,” said Bob Colarossi, President of USA Gymnastics. “This is not your traditional gymnastics competition as gymnasts will perform under the spotlights to the music and costume of their choice. It will make for an exciting evening.”
The 2001 Reese’s Gymnastics Cup will be judged by notable celebrities from the sports world including Houston’s own world-renowned gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi and 1991 World Champion Kim Zmeskal. Also judging is five-time U.S. National Champion and two-time Olympian Blaine Wilson and the Houston Comets’ Sheryl Swoopes.
The event is hosted locally by the Houston International Sports Committee and managed in conjunction with Global Productions. The 2001 Reese’s Gymnastics Cup will be televised on NBC on December 9, from 2-4 p.m.
Tickets for the Reese’s Gymnastics Cup are available at the University of Houston Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at 713-629-3700 and Ticketmaster.com.