INDIANAPOLIS – Louisville ‘s expanding sports community will be introduced to the newest discipline of gymnastics in July when the 2005 Acrobatic Gymnastics National Championships visit the Kentucky International Convention Center , July 22-28.

With nearly 600 athletes competing across five days, the 2005 Acrobatic Gymnastics National Championships are expected to be the largest in the budding sport’s history. Top athletes will vie for national titles in the Men’s Pairs, Women’s Pairs, Mixed Pairs, Women’s Groups (3) and Men’s Groups (4) categories.
“Acrobatic gymnastics is such a unique discipline of gymnastics, requiring incredible strength, flexibility, core body control and balance,” said Carisa Laughon, Sr. Director of Acrobatic Gymnastics for USA Gymnastics. “This event is unlike any other ever hosted in Louisville , and really opens your eyes as to the amazing athleticism of the athletes. Louisville ‘s sports fans can expect to see a thrilling competition among some of the world’s best acrobatic gymnasts.”
“We are really pleased that USAG has shown their confidence in the Louisville community and GLSC by awarding us the chance to host their national championship event, especially on such short notice,” said Andy Jugan, executive director of the Greater Louisville Sports Commission. “This is a very different kind of event, a discipline within the sport of gymnastics that will provide Louisvillians a unique opportunity to see some truly great athletes performing some amazing athletic feats set to music. It is a beautiful blend of dance, acrobatics and gymnastics, well worth seeing.”
Though Acrobatic Gymnastics has been competed at the world level since the 1970s, the sport only became a part of USA Gymnastics in 2002. Arthur Davis and Shenea Booth became the first U.S. Acro world champions in the mixed pairs event at the 2002 Worlds, and then became the first Acro athletes to repeat as world champions for the United States in 2004. The U.S. Women’s Trio of Samantha Schabow, Danielle Heider and Jennifer daSilva won the bronze medal in the women’s trio event in 2004, marking the first U.S. medal in women’s trio at a World Championships.
Competition at the 2005 Acrobatic Gymnastics National Championships takes place in daily sessions from July 24-28. General admission tickets will be available at the door. More information is available at www.usa-gymnastics.org/acro/.
Sports Acrobatics combines the beauty of dance with the strength and agility of acrobatics. Gymnastics skills add excitement to the exercises, while intense acrobatic balances show grace, strength and flexibility. Routines are choreographed to music and consist of dance, tumbling, and partner skills. At the elite level, each pair or group performs a Balance, Dynamic and Combined routine. Pyramids and partner holds characterize the Balance routine, while synchronized tumbling and intricate flight elements define the Dynamic exercise. Finally, the Combined exercise unites elements of Balance and Dynamic.