INDIANAPOLIS – San Antonio will play host to 40 of the nation’s top up-and-coming women’s gymnasts when the American Challenge gets underway Friday and Saturday at Harris Unlimited Gymnastics School (HUGS).
The American Challenge is an opportunity for former International Elite (top tier) athletes and Pre-Elites to qualify into the U.S. Classic, which serves as the lone qualifier to the 2005 Visa Championships in August. Athletes competing in the American Challenge represent the future of USA Gymnastics, and include those athletes who may have missed automatic qualification to the U.S. Classic in the previous year’s competitive cycle for any reason.
“The American Challenge is very important for the next wave of talented gymnasts,” said Martha Karolyi, National Team Coordinator. “Now is the time when the next crop of Olympians is starting to make their names known, and events such as the Challenge are the first step toward making the U.S. National Team.”
Top athletes from the American Challenge advance to the U.S. Classic, July 22-23 in Virginia Beach , Va. Qualifiers from the U.S. Classic and current National Team athletes will be invited to the Visa Championships, Aug. 10-13 in Indianapolis .
The Challenge optionals begin at 7 p.m. Friday, March 5, with Challenge compulsories slated for 10:30 a.m. Sunday, March 6. HUGS is located at 14242 Cross Canyon on San Antonio ‘s north side.
For more information, contact HUGS at 210-496-0408. A complete list of qualifiers and detailed schedule is available at: www.usa-gymnastics.org/women/tops/tops.html.