U.S. rhythmic gymnasts continue in Europe for competition throughout the week while the U.S. men’s program gathers in Colorado for selection camp.
Olympians Evita Griskenas (Orland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center) and Izzy Connor (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.) are both in action for the 2023 Portimão World Challenge Cup May 5-8 in Portugal.
Griskenas will participate in individual competition while the Senior National Group of Connor, Daria Merkulova (Vernon Hills, Ill.), Gergana Petkova (Barrington, Ill.), Katrine Sakhnov (Glencoe, Ill.), Karolina Saverino (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) and Hana Starkman (Deerfield, Ill.) will represent the U.S. in the group division.
The World Cup begins Friday, May 5 with hoop and ball qualifications at 5:30 a.m. ET with USA in Group B at 7 a.m. ET, followed by group five hoop at 1:50 p.m. ET. Clubs and ribbons qualifications are set for Saturday, May 6 with USA in Group B at 5:30 a.m. ET followed by group three ribbons and two balls at 1:35 p.m. ET. Sunday sets the stage for all finals beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
More rhythmic athletes will be in action at the Gdynia Rhythmic Stars International Tournament May 5-7 in Poland, and the Ritam Cup International Tournament May 6-7 in Belgrade, Serbia. Participants for each competition are listed below.
Isabella Chong — Mission Viejo, Calif./Burlo Gymnastics
Megan Chu — San Diego, Calif./Pacific Stars Rhythmic Academy
Olivia Fischer — Denver, Colo./Zara Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy
Deanna Georgieva — Centennial, Colo./Zara Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy
Yana Golovan — Las Vegas, Nev./Nevada Rhythmic Academy
Rin Keys — Porter Ranch, Calif./Burlo Gymnastics
Sarah Mariotti — San Diego, Calif./Pacific Stars Rhythmic Academy
Ksenia Pototski — Brooklyn, N.Y./Isadora by Match Point
Natalia de la Rosa — Woodland Hills, Calif./Burlo Gymnastics
Amina Akhmatova — Mahwah, N.J./Liberty Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics
Sarah Novofastovsky — Livingston, N.J./Liberty Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics
Anastasia Slipets — Wyckoff, N.J./Liberty Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics
Anya Tarasyuk — Livingston, N.J./Liberty Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics
Ivanka Tarasyuk — Livingston, N.J./Liberty Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics
Irina Fesyun —Aventura, Fla./IK School of Gymnastics
Neleh Kay — Beverly Hills, Calif./California Rhythms
Lauren Kramer — San Diego, Calif./Pacific Stars Rhythmic Academy
Serena Lu — Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora by Match Point
Erika Rusak — Auburn, Wash./Evergreen Rhythmics
Naomi Skotnikov — Highland Village, Texas/Nevada Rhythmic Academy
Teams for the 2023 Pan American Championships and World University Games will be determined following the men’s Senior National Team camp May 3-7 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Athletes will participate in selection and/or individual training. Those vying for roster spots will take part in the selection competition on Saturday, May 6. Five gymnasts and one traveling replacement athlete will be named to the Pan Am Championships team, while a minimum of three and maximum of five athletes will be selected for the World University Games team. More information about Pan Am Championships and WUG selections are available.
Camp attendees are listed alphabetically below.
Jeremy Bischoff — Santa Clarita, Calif./Stanford University
Landen Blixt — Fowlerville, Mich./University of Michigan, W
Garrett Braunton — Olympia, Wash./U.S. Air Force Academy, W
Taylor Christopulos — Layton, Utah/University of Nebraska, P/W
Matt Cormier — Milton, Mass./ Penn State University, P/W
Isaiah Drake — Los Angeles, Calif./U.S. Naval Academy
Asher Hong — Tomball, Texas/Stanford University
Josh Karnes — Erie, Penn./Penn State University, P/W
Ian Lasic-Ellis* — Dover, Mass./Stanford University
Riley Loos — El Dorado Hills, Calif./Stanford University
Brody Malone* — Aragon, Ga./Stanford University
Yul Moldauer — Arvada, Colo./5280 Gymnastics, P
Kameron Nelson — Evans, Ga./Ohio State University, W
Curran Phillips — Naperville, Ill./Stanford University, P
Fred Richard — Stoughton, Mass./University of Michigan, W
Ian Skirkey — Pepperell, Mass./University of Illinois, W
Blake Sun — San Antonio, Texas/Stanford University, P
Donnell Whittenburg — Baltimore, Md./ Salto Gymnastics Center, P
Shane Wiskus — Spring Park, Minn./EVO Gymnastics, P
Khoi Young — Bowie, Md./Stanford University, P
*As they recover and rehab from injuries sustained in March, Malone and Lasic-Ellis will attend camp to support their USA teammates preparing for international competition.
P— Denotes athlete trying for Pan American Championship team
W— Denotes athlete trying for World University Games team