John Orozco and Danell Leyva celebrate after being named to the Olympic Team
© John Cheng

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 30, 2012 – Danell Leyva of Miami/Team Hilton HHonors (Universal Gymnastics), and John Orozco of the Bronx, N.Y./Team Hilton HHonors (U.S. Olympic Training Center), each earned a ticket to the 2012 Olympic Games in London today at the U.S. Olympic Trials at the HP Pavilion at San Jose (Calif.). The duo automatically earned Olympic berths by finishing first and second in the all-around and recording three or more top three finishes in the individual event standings. Competition at the U.S. Olympic Trials – Gymnastics concludes tomorrow with the final day of women’s competition, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Pacific time.

"It’s surreal, super unbelievable," Leyva said. "It’s crazy to say that I just finished my first Olympic Trials. I’m so glad to be here. The crowd was amazing, all of the guys were amazing."

"I can’t really believe that I am here right now," said a tearful Orozco. "I just want to thank my parents and coaches – we did it!"

Leyva posted a four-day combined score of 368.350, followed by Orozco, 367.400, and Jonathan Horton of Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress), 361.500.

The remaining members of the U.S. men’s Olympic team will be named tomorrow, and all Olympic Team berths are subject to the approval of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s board of directors.

Leyva and Orozco were locked in a tight back and forth competition with each leading the competition throughout the day, but Leyva’s spectacular parallel bars routine in the final rotation, which earned a 15.850, moved him to the top of the standings. Leyva bowed to the crowd of more than 10,500 before sharing embraces with both Yin Alvarez, his coach and stepfather, and his mother, Maria Gonzalez.

Leyva began competition on the horizontal bar, where he earned a 16.300, punctuated by a stuck double-twisting double-layout dismount to the delight of the crowd. Leyva earned scores of 14.450, floor exercise; 14.900, pommel horse; and 14.700, still rings. His 15.650 Kasamatsu double-full vault score set up the come-from-behind victory.

Orozco also began on the high bar, performing four catch-and-release moves to score 15.950. In rotation two, Orozco nearly stuck his two-and-a-half twist dismount on floor to earn a 15.200. Then, on the pommel horse, Orozco posted a 14.950 with a Magyar to Sivado combination and smooth handstand dismount. He performed an Azarian to cross, back up-rise to Maltese, and stuck one-a-half twisting dismount to score 15.350 on the still rings. Orozco finished his competition with scores of 16.050, vault, and 14.350, parallel bars.

Horton posted his highest score of the day on the vault, 15.850, where he performed a handspring double front. He also recorded scores of 13.800, pommel horse; 15.450, still rings; 15.500, parallel bars; 14.950, horizontal bar; and 14.600, floor exercise.

Jake Dalton of Reno, Nev./University of Oklahoma, and Chris Brooks of Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress), tied in the four-day standings with matching 358.350 scores.

Sam Mikulak of Newport Coast, Calif./University of Michigan, who had been third in the overall standings, only competed on the pommel horse in today’s competition due to a sprained left ankle in Thursday’s competition. He scored a 14.400.

 

Television, webcast and YouTube coverage

NBC Sports Network, formerly Versus, will broadcast the first day of men’s competition live on June 28 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. ET. Then, NBC will broadcast live coverage on television and at NBCOlympics.com of the remaining three days of competition: women’s day one, June 29, 9-11 p.m. ET; men’s final day, June 30, 4-6 p.m. ET; and women’s final day, July 1, 9-11 p.m. ET.

Television coverage of the women’s competitions on June 29 and July 1 will be tape delayed in the Pacific and Mountain time zones but available live nationwide online. For a complete schedule of NBC’s coverage, click here.

USA Gymnastics will provide coverage of podium training prior to the event, as well as post-competition interviews and more on its official YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/usagymnaticsorg.

Ways to follow

  • Online. The 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials – Gymnastics and its ancillary activities are easier than ever to follow online. Schedules and general information for both fan activities and the competition, including the official event program, start lists, live scoring and more are available at www.SanJose2012.com, which is easily viewable on smart phones and other digital devices.

  • Social Media. USA Gymnastics are connecting with fans on Facebook and Twitter, providing live updates and exclusive content including videos and photos from the Visa Championships. Gymnastics fans can follow the action easily on Twitter by using the official hashtag of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials – Gymnastics, #SanJose2012.

  • Fan Activities. From morning fitness at the Circle of the Palms to the Visa Fan Fest and the AT&T Block Party outside the HP Pavilion, fans will have plenty of opportunities for fun while they enjoy the exciting week of competition in San Jose. Click here for a complete schedule of fan activities.

Background information

  • HP Pavilion. HP Pavilion at San Jose, managed by Sharks Sports & Entertainment, hosts nearly 100 sporting events annually including more than 40 San Jose Sharks regular season home games and the SAP Open men’s professional tennis tournament. The building hosts approximately 170 events every year — including Olympic athletes, Grammy award-winners and a variety of family and children’s favorites that account for more than 200 event days. Pollstar, the leading concert industry trade magazine, nominated HP Pavilion at San Jose as "Arena of the Year" for 2005 and 2007. In 2007, Pollstar also recognized HP Pavilion at San Jose based on non-sports attendance as fourth in North America, top 10 in the world. Over the past 10 years, HP Pavilion at San Jose has consistently been in the Top 5 in North America and top 10 in the world.

  • San Jose Sports Authority. The San Jose Sports Authority is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the City of San Jose’s economic development, visibility and civic pride through sports. Serving as the City’s sports commission since its inception in 1991, the Sports Authority has provided leadership and support to attract and host hundreds of sporting events in San Jose and the South Bay. The Sports Authority also supports and operates community, youth and amateur sports programs, including the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, The First Tee of San Jose, and the REACH Youth Scholarship Program. To learn more, visit www.sjsa.org.

  • City of San Jose. From its founding in 1777 as California’s first city, San Jose has been a leader, driven by its spirit of innovation. Today, San Jose stands as the largest city in Northern California and the Capital of Silicon Valley—the world’s leading center of innovation. The city, the 10th largest in the United States, is committed to remaining a top-ranked place to do business, to work and to live. For more information, visit www.sanjoseca.gov.

  • San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (SJCVB). The San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (SJCVB), a 25 year old organization focused on enhancing the image and economic well being of San Jose, is managed by Team San Jose, a unique customer service model that works in partnership with local hoteliers, organized labor, local arts leadership and business community to provide a one-team approach to all event-planning needs. Team San Jose manages the San Jose Convention Center and multiple theaters in Downtown San Jose, including the San Jose Civic, Parkside Hall, Center for the Performing Arts, California Theatre and Montgomery Theater. For more information, visit www.sanjose.org.

  • San Jose Hotels Inc. (SJHI). San Jose Hotels Inc., is a hotels-led, non-profit business improvement district representing 35 San Jose-based hotels. SJHI leverages destination investment focused on event sponsorship, marketing and public relations to attract conventions, events and meetings to San Jose through a unique partnership with Team San Jose and the SJCVB.