© John Cheng

INDIANAPOLIS, June 5, 2012 – Chellsie Memmel of West Allis, Wis., who was the first U.S. woman to win the World all-around title after an 11-year break and earned six World and one Olympic medal, today joined the cast for the 2012 Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions. Memmel, who won the World all-around title in 2005 and went on to claim a total of three World gold, three World silver and the 2008 Olympic team silver, will participate in the majority of the Tour’s 40 stops. She joins members of the 2012 Olympic team and 2008 Olympic teammate Nastia Liukin in this unique celebration of the sport.

"Joining the 2012 Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions is exciting for me and will be a lot of fun," said Memmel. "The tour really provides an opportunity for all of the athletes to be recognized for their achievements in the sport, as well as connect with the fans who have been so supportive throughout our careers. I am really looking forward to being a part of this tour."

"Chellsie’s commitment to join the cast is important," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "Her journey with USA Gymnastics has been a significant part of our success, and we are proud to celebrate her accomplishments."

The 2012 Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions is a 10-week, cross-country tour featuring present and past World and Olympic champions and medalists. USA Gymnastics will work with Memmel to determine the Tour stops where she will perform. The entire cast will be named in the near future.

"Performing for the fans has always been an important aspect of my career," added Memmel. "The positive energy we receive from the crowd is indescribable, and the tour really allows us to enjoy what performing is all about. I am so excited about the team’s chances in London, and I look forward to celebrating the year with them on the Tour."

In her 12 years as an elite gymnast, Memmel was a 10-time U.S. National Team member, matching the women’s record originally set by Dominique Dawes.

In 2003, she won the team, all-around, uneven bars and balance beam gold medals at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Just weeks later at the 2003 World Championships in Anaheim, Calif., Memmel, originally the team’s second alternate, was called up to compete. During the team final, Memmel was the only U.S. competitor to compete on all four events, leading Team USA to its first-ever World team gold medal, and earning a tie with teammate Hollie Vise for gold on the uneven bars.

In 2005, Memmel became the first U.S. woman to win the World all-around title since Shannon Miller in 1994. Additionally, she claimed silver medals in the uneven bars and balance beam and helped Team USA to a record-setting nine World Championships medals.

At the 2006 World Championships, she helped the USA to the team silver. Showing grit, determination and team spirit that would become her trademarks, she found a way to push through and finish her routine and the remaining events after injuring her right shoulder on the uneven bars, ensuring the USA a spot on the podium.

In Beijing at the 2008 Olympic Games, Memmel delivered a 15.750 on the uneven bars in the team final, helping the American squad to their second consecutive Olympic team silver medal. Memmel is one of only 41 U.S. women to claim an Olympic gymnastics medal.

Tickets to the Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions are available through participating gymnastics clubs, and go on sale to the public on July 20. Go to KelloggsTour.com for more information on tickets in specific markets.

The Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions is produced by USA Gymnastics in partnership with AEG Facilities. Kellogg Company is the exclusive title sponsor, and Hilton HHonors and Procter & Gamble are official supporting partners.

Background information

  • Kellogg Company. Driven to enrich and delight the world through foods and brands that matter, Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) is the world’s leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of snacks and frozen foods. Every day, our well-loved brands – produced in 17 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries – nourish families so they can flourish and thrive. With 2011 sales of more than $13 billion, these brands include Cheez-It®, Coco Pops®, Corn Flakes®, Eggo®, Frosted Flakes®, Kashi®, Keebler®, Kellogg’s®, Mini-Wheats®, Pop-Tarts®, Rice Krispies®, Special K®, and many more. To learn more about Kellogg Company, including our corporate responsibility initiatives and rich heritage, please visit www.kelloggcompany.com.

  • Hilton HHonors. Hilton HHonors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton Worldwide’s 10 distinct hotel brands, honors its 30 million members by allowing them to turn earned points into experiences worth sharing. In addition to redeeming HHonors points forcomplimentary hotel stays, HHonors members can use points to purchase unique experience rewards, merchandise and vacation packages, make charitable contributions, and more. HHonors is also the only guest-loyalty program to offer ‘Points & Miles’ and ‘No Blackout Dates’ at more than 3,750 hotels worldwide, including participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. Membership in HHonors is free, and travelers may enroll online by visiting www.HiltonHHonors.com or connect with Hilton HHonors at www.HHonorsGlobalMediaCenter.com.

  • Procter and Gamble. P&G touches and improves the lives of about 4.4 billion people around the world with its portfolio of trusted, quality brands. The Company’s leadership brands include Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Fairy®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun®, Fusion®, Ace®, Febreze®, and Ambi Pur®. With operations in about 80 countries, P&G brands are available in more than 180 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

  • AEG Facilities. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Company, is the leading sports, entertainment and venue operator in the world. AEG Facilities, a stand-alone affiliate of AEG, owns, operates or consults with 100 of the industry’s preeminent venues worldwide, across five continents, and works in concert with affiliated AEGentities, including live event producer, AEG Live, AEG Global Partnerships and AEG Development to support the success of AEG venues across the globe. AEG owns, operates or provides services to venues including STAPLES Center (LosAngeles, Calif.), The Home Depot Center (Carson, Calif.), Nokia Theatre L.A. Live (Los Angeles, Calif.), Citizens Business Bank Arena (Ontario, Calif.),Valley View Casino Center (San Diego, Calif.), Sprint Center (Kansas City, Mo.), XL Center and Rentschler Field (Hartford, Conn.), U.S. Bank Arena (Cincinnati, Ohio), The Rose Garden (Portland, Ore.), KeyArena (Seattle, Wash.), KFC YUM! Center (Louisville, Ky.), AmericanAirlines Arena (Miami, Fla.), AT&T Center (San Antonio, Texas), Time Warner Cable Arena (Charlotte, N.C.), Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.), Target Center (Minneapolis, Minn.), Mercedes-Benz Arena (Shanghai, China), MasterCard Center (Beijing, China), The O2 Arena (London, England), O2 World (Berlin, Germany), O2 World Hamburg (Hamburg, Germany), Ahoy Arena (Rotterdam, Netherlands), Pernambuco Stadium(Recife, Brazil), Allphones Arena (Sydney, Australia), Globe Arenas (Stockholm, Sweden), Ulker Sports Arena (Istanbul, Turkey) and the Qatar National Convention Centre (Doha, Qatar). For more information, please visit www.aegworldwide.com.