ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, Oct. 13, 2010 – All seven members of the U.S. Women’s Team for the 2010 World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, had the opportunity to test the competition apparatus during podium training at the Ahoy Arena today. The U.S. women will compete at 9 a.m. local time on Oct. 17, the second day of the women’s qualification rounds. The U.S. men have podium training on Oct. 14, with their qualification round on Oct. 18. The World Championships are scheduled for Oct. 16-24.

Podium training allows the participants to train on the actual competition apparatus.

“Podium training is over,” said Martha Karolyi, the women’s national team coordinator. “There were some highlights and some mistakes. Based on that, over the next three days, we will do some adjustments and I think altogether we will be ready.”

The members of the women’s World Team, which includes a mixture of veterans and new faces, are: Rebecca Bross of Plano, Texas/WOGA, 2010 U.S. all-around champion and 2009 World all-around silver medalist; Mackenzie Caquatto of Naperville, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics; Chelsea Davis of Lakeway, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics; Mattie Larson of Los Angeles, Calif./All Olympia; Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics; Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics, 2008 Olympic silver-medalist and seven-time world-medalist; and Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind., 2009 World all-around champion

“It (podium training) was eventful,” said Sloan. “I definitely take each meet as a learning experience. It was nice to get out on the podium, but it is podium training and it is just like a training session. I think we were a little jittery but I think we got them all out.”

Sacramone, who is competing in her fourth World Championships and has seven medals to her credit, has given some advice to her teammates who are competing in their first. “(I told them ) just to stay calm and not get ahead of themselves. The biggest thing is to be confident in your abilities because they have been working so hard and they are ready for this. Nerves can get the best of you some times and you make uncharacteristic mistakes. I think if they stay calm, they are going to do great.”

The World Championships features team, all-around and individual event competition. Qualification rounds determine advancement to the team, all-around, and apparatus finals. The women’s qualification rounds are Oct. 16-17, with the men’s Oct. 18-19. The top eight teams compete in the team finals on Oct. 20 (women) and 21 (men). The top 24 individuals compete in the all-around final on Oct. 22 (men and women). For individual events, the top eight on each apparatus from the qualification rounds advance to the finals (Oct. 23-24). A maximum of two gymnasts per country advances to the all-around and individual event finals.

Fans can follow the action on both Universal Sports and NBC Sports. Universal Sports is carrying a live webcast on universalsports.com and providing same-day, tape-delayed primetime broadcasts on its cable network for all of the final rounds, as well as hosting “Around the Gym, presented by AT&T” after each night’s broadcast to recap the day’s performance and preview the upcoming competition. The live webcast for all of the final rounds is only $9.99 with the code USAGYMFAN. NBC Sports will broadcast coverage on Oct. 23 and 24. For the complete web and TV schedules, go to usagym.org/worlds.

On its official website usagym.org/worlds, USA Gymnastics will provide enhanced coverage from Rotterdam that will include results and exclusive photos from the competition as well as daily video interviews. USA Gymnastics will also post event updates on its Facebook and Twitter pages and provide LIVE team scores and rankings from each day of Team USA competition @USA_GymEvents.

In addition to awarding world medals, the 2010 World Championships also determine the 24 countries that advance to the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo. Countries have two opportunities to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games, finishing in the top eight in the team competition at the 2011 World Championships or in the top four at the 2012 Olympic Test Event in London. World champions and medalists will be determined for both men and women in the team, all-around and individual events.