INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., June 24, 2010 – Athletes from 10 countries and seven U.S. gymnasts will compete this weekend in the 2010 Chicago Cup at the Broadway Armory Park on June 26-27. The Chicago Cup features both a junior and senior all-around and individual event competition, along with a group exhibition. The Rhythmic Junior Olympic Optional Championships and Level 10 Invitational, held in conjunction with the Chicago Cup, run through June 26.

Three members of the U.S. Team were medalists at last year’s Chicago Cup. Senior Julie Zetlin of Bethesda, Md./Rhythmflex, won five medals in 2009: silver in the all-around, rope and ribbon and bronze in both the hoop and ball. Junior Rebecca Sereda of Staten Island, N.Y./ Isadora Rhythmics, is the defending junior Chicago Cup champion, winning two gold individual event medals (rope and hoop) and two silver event medals (ball and clubs). Also in the junior division, Jazzy Kerber of Highland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, claimed four bronze medals – all-around, rope, ball and clubs.

In addition to Kerber, two other local gymnasts from North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center – seniors JoAnna Arnold of Northville, Mich., and Shelby Kisiel of Houston – are competing in the Chicago Cup. The senior U.S. squad also includes seniors Olga Pavlenko of Brooklyn, N.Y./Isadora Rhythmics, and Anastasia Torba of Orinda, Calif./Allegro Rhythmic.

Russia’s Ellina Tregubova is returning to defend her 2009 Chicago Cup all-around title. Mexico is sending Rut Castillo, who was a silver and bronze medalist at the 2007 Pan American Games. In addition to Mexico, Russia and the USA, the countries expected to compete are Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Slovenia and Venezuela.

The first day of the Chicago Cup determines the all-around champion, who is the gymnast with the highest aggregate score after four events, and the top eight gymnasts for each event advance to the individual event finals. Competition begins at 2:30 p.m. CT with the junior all-around, followed by the senior all-around at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 26. On Sunday, the junior and senior individual event finals begin at 4 p.m. Individual session tickets for the Chicago Cup are $20 for June 26 and 27. An all-session ticket, which provides access to all Chicago Cup and Junior Olympic Championships sessions, is available for $45. Visa is the preferred credit card.

The apparatus for the Chicago Cup are: senior – rope, hoop, ball and ribbon; and junior – rope, hoop, ball and clubs. The all-around competition includes routines with all four apparatus. Individual event finals feature qualified gymnasts competing with each apparatus for a score.

The Level 10 Invitational will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday, prior to the Chicago Cup event finals. As part of the Chicago Level 10 Invitational, four gymnasts will vie for the USA’s berth to the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August: Megan Kincaid of Los Angeles/California Rhythms, Polina Kozitskiy of Fountainville, Pa./Philadelphia Rhythmic Academy, Alexis Page of New York City/Aviator Sports and Recreation, and Amanda Tran of Shoreline, Wash./Kortel Academy of Gymnastics.

For the complete competition schedule, go to www.usa-gymnastics.org/chicagocup.

Background information
World Sport Chicago: World Sport Chicago believes that sport has the power to transform and is dedicated to helping children in Chicago find a sport to meet their interests and abilities. The organization is a legacy of the 2016 Olympic bid and promotes the Olympic ideals of fitness, education and well being by working with partner organizations to launch or expand sport programs for kids. WSC is working to introduce Chicago’s youth to the fun and benefit of sports and the ideals of fair play, teamwork, respect and leadership.