Memmel, Liukin headline U.S. Women’s Team for 2006 Pacific Alliance Gymnastics Championships

Chellsie Memmel of West Allis, Wis., the 2005 world all-around champion, and Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas, the 2005 world balance beam and uneven bars champion, headline the eight-woman U.S. Team that will compete in the 2006 Pacific Alliance Gymnastics Championships, April 13-15 in Honolulu.

April 7, 2006

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Chellsie Memmel of West Allis, Wis., the 2005 world all-around champion, and Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas, the 2005 world balance beam and uneven bars champion, headline the eight-woman U.S. Team that will compete in the 2006 Pacific Alliance Gymnastics Championships, April 13-15 in Honolulu. One of the world’s premier international events, the Pacific Alliance Championships features artistic gymnastics at the Neal Blaisdell Center and rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline at the Hawaii Convention Center.

The three-day event includes competition on both the junior and senior levels. The senior women’s squad consists of Jana Bieger of Coconut Creek, Fla./Boca Twisters Gymnastics Academy; Shayla Worley of Orlando, Fla./Orlando Metro; Liukin, who trains at WOGA; and Memmel, who trains at M&M Gymnastics. The junior women’s team consists of

Rebecca Bross of Ann Arbor, Mich./WOGA; Bianca Flohr of Creston, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy; Shawn Johnson of Des Moines, Iowa/Chow’s Gymnastics; and Shantessa Pama of Dana Point, Calif./Gym-Max Gymnastics.

Artistic and rhythmic gymnastics will have team, all-around and individual event competitions for both juniors and seniors. Individual trampoline will also have competition for both juniors and seniors.

In addition to the United States, China and Japan, athletes will represent Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines and Russia. The 2006 Pacific Alliance Championships is one of the first international events in the world to use the new scoring system for artistic gymnastics that allows gymnasts to earn scores above the traditional 10.0.

Tickets are $15 and $30 for artistic gymnastics, with all-session packages for $45 or $75. For rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline, tickets are $15. Tickets may be purchased at the Neal Blaisdell Center Box Office, ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-750-4400 (charge-by-phone). Applicable service fees may apply. NBC Sports is broadcasting action from the Pacific Alliance Championships on April 16 at 4 p.m. ET.

The 2004 Pacific Alliance Championships was held in Honolulu. Paul Hamm and Allyse Ishino won the all-around titles, with the U.S. Senior Men winning seven medals and the U.S. Senior Women sweeping the gold medals in the four event finals. China’s Lu Bo won the title in the parallel bars and still rings, while Taipei’s Lin Hsiang Wei won the pommel horse. In the team competition, Japan and China finished behind the USA for the men, while Australia and China finished second and third, respectively, behind the USA’s women. The USA led the total medal count, followed by China and Canada. The USA’s Mary Sanders won the all-around title for rhythmic gymnastics. In 2001, Honolulu’s Blaisdell Center hosted the Pontiac American Team Cup.

This year’s Pacific Alliance Championships is locally presented by Outrigger Hotels & Resorts and OHANA Hotels & Resorts and sponsored by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Chevron and KHNL/Channel 8 News. A Tom Moffatt Production, Inc., is a promotional partner for the event.