SAINT PAUL, Minn., Aug. 18, 2011 – Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich/Gedderts’ Twistars, claimed the top spot in the senior women’s all-around competition after the first night of competition with a score of 59.850 at the 2011 Visa Championships at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn. The women’s competition concludes on Saturday, Aug. 20, with live television coverage on NBC Sports beginning at 7 p.m. Central time. Tomorrow, Aug. 19, marks the conclusion of the men’s gymnastics competition, while rhythmic gymnastics starts it two days of competition.
"The competition went really well," Wieber said. "I had a lot of fun. The main goal was to come out and be confident, hitting four-for-four and I did that."
Wieber started the competition on the balance beam with a 14.600, performing a standing backflip with a full twist and stuck two-and-a-half twisting dismount. In rotation two, the Michigan native moved to the floor exercise, mounting with a tuck double twisting double backflip for the highest score of the night on the event, a 14.900. With a nearly stuck two-and-a-half twisting Yurchenko vault and a 15.800 score in the third rotation, Wieber took the lead for the remainder of the competition. On the uneven bars, Wieber closed out her first night of competition at the Visa Championships with a 14.550.
Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics, the 2011 CoverGirl Classic all-around champion, finished second in the all-around with a 58.000 due to solid efforts on the floor exercise (14.800), vault (15.050) and balance beam (14.700). Raisman’s floor routine was highlighted by a spectacular one-and-a-half twist through to an Arabian double front to punch front, the only gymnast in the world to compete the tumbling pass.
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2008 Olympic silver-medalist and 2005 World all-around champion Chellsie Memmel of West Allis, Wis./M and M Gymnastics, rounded out the top three, totaling a 57.350 in the all-around. Memmel earned her highest score, a 15.250, on the balance beam where she moved flawlessly through a barani to back handspring and standing Arabian.
Defending champion, Rebecca Bross of Plano, Texas/WOGA, started slowly on the uneven bars and balance beam but found her stride in the third rotation on the floor exercise. Performing a new routine, Bross mounted with a front layout to double front and earned a 14.850 – the second highest score on the event. Bross’ all-around total, a 56.900, was good for fourth place after night one.
2008 Olympic silver-medalist Alicia Sacramone showed the form that won her the gold medal on vault at last year’s World Championships, performing a front handspring one-and-a-half twisting vault with ease. Her two-vault average, a 15.500, was the highest on the event. Sacramone also finished second on the balance beam with a 15.200.
Shawn Johnson, 2008 Olympic balance beam champion, competing in her second competition since Beijing, started strong on the vault with a double twisting Yurchenko (14.650). Johnson went on to record a 14.350 on the uneven bars and a 14.700 on the balance beam.
In the individual event competition, Sacramone posted the highest score on the vault, while Anna Li of Naperville, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics, topped the bars standings, soaring through the air on a toe-on Khorkina II transition and nearly sticking her double layout dismount for a 15.050. Memmel posted the highest score on the beam, and Wieber leads on the floor exercise.
The combined scores from tonight’s competition and the final day of competition on Saturday will determine the U.S. senior women’s champion.
The 2011 Visa Championships, USA Gymnastics’ national championships, features the country’s best gymnasts vying for national titles and spots on the U.S. National Team in men’s, women’s and rhythmic gymnastics. Men’s and women’s gymnastics will be held at Xcel Energy Center, Aug. 17-20, and rhythmic gymnastics will be at Roy Wilkins Auditorium Aug. 19-20. Tickets for the four-day event are on sale now, with individual session tickets, as well as multi- and all-session ticket packages. Tickets may be purchased at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office, Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by phone at 800-745-3000, and online at www.ticketmaster.com. In recognition of Visa’s sponsorship, USA Gymnastics is proud to accept only Visa at the 2011 Visa Championships, along with cash. For ticket and event information, go to www.usagym.org/visa.
Television and webcast coverage
- Universal Sports. Universal Sports television will broadcast the men’s and women’s senior competitions live on Aug. 18 and 19 beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Competition in the first day of the senior women’s competition will be simultaneously webcast on UniversalSports.com, while the final day of both the men’s and women’s championship will be available for on-demand streaming following the television broadcast. To find a Universal Sports channel in a specific area, click here.
- NBC Sports. Live, prime-time coverage of the final day of the senior women’s competition on NBC Sports begins at 8 p.m. ET on Aug. 20. Action from the men’s competition will air on NBC Sports beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 21.
- "Around the Gym." "Around the Gym," which provides commentary, recaps and interviews, will air on Universal Sports half an hour before and immediately following the Universal Sports telecasts on Aug. 18 and 19, as well as after the conclusion of the NBC Sports broadcast on Aug. 20. 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin and three-time Olympic team member John Roethlisberger serve as hosts for the show.
Ways to follow
- Online. The 2011 Visa Championships 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.usagym.org/visa, which is easily viewable on smart phones and other digital devices. The increased information online is just part of the overall effort to make the 2011 Visa Championships the "greenest" to date.
- Social Media. USA Gymnastics are connecting with fans on Facebook (facebook.com/USAGymnastics) and Twitter (@USAGym), 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 2011 Visa Championships, #visachamps.
- Fan Activities. USA Gymnastics will be hosting a wide-range of fan activities at Saint Paul’s Rice Park, adjacent to the Xcel Energy Center and Roy Wilkins Auditorium including 6:30 a.m. morning fitness, lunchtime gymnastics demonstrations and Painting in the Park presented by Art of the Olympians. Fans can also gather for fun between the women’s gymnastics sessions on Aug. 20 and post-competition Aug. 19-20 in Rice Park for the Visa Fan Fest to enjoy interviews, food, music and celebrate the Visa Championships.
Background information
- USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show. The USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show is held in conjunction with the Visa Championships and will be conducted next door at Saint Paul RiverCentre. The USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show is the annual gathering of professional members that offers educational and business sessions, a large exhibitor’s hall and other business and educational opportunities.
- Xcel Energy Center. Regarded as one of the finest arenas in the world, Xcel Energy Center is home to the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, the NLL’s Minnesota Swarm and a multitude of premier sports and entertainment events annually. The one-of-a-kind, multi-purpose facility is located in the heart of downtown Saint Paul, owned by the City of Saint Paul and managed by Saint Paul Arena Company, an affiliate of Minnesota Sports & Entertainment.
- Saint Paul RiverCentre. Saint Paul RiverCentre is the city’s premier convention center that overlooks the bluffs of the Mississippi River. Featuring more than 250,000 square feet of versatile event space and flexible room configurations that include the Grand Ballroom and The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium, Saint Paul RiverCentre is the preferred choice for hundreds of events each year including star-studded galas, trade shows and conventions.
- Visit Saint Paul. The mission of Visit Saint Paul is to generate economic growth for Saint Paul by effectively marketing the RiverCentre campus, Saint Paul and the region as a preferred convention and tourism destination.
2011 Visa Championships
Xcel Energy Center
St. Paul, Minn.
Aug. 18, 2011
First day of two for senior women’s gymnastics
All-Around
1. Jordyn Wieber, DeWitt, Mich., 59.850
2. Alexandra Raisman, Needham, Mass., 58.000
3. Chellsie Memmel, West Allis, Wis., 57.350
4. Rebecca Bross, Plano, Texas, 56.900
5. McKayla Maroney, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 56.300
6. Mackenzie Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., 56.000
7. Bridgette Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., 55.600
8. Sabrina Vega, Carmel, N.Y., 55.250
9. Grace McLaughlin, Allen, Texas, 54.700
10. Sophia Lee, Plano, Texas, 54.450
11. Brandie Jay, Ft. Collins, Colo., 54.300
12. Gabrielle Douglas, Virginia Beach, Va., 53.450
13. Hallie Mossett, Los Angeles, Calif., 51.750
14. Jessica Howe, Plano, Texas, 50.600
15. Alicia Sacramone, Winchester, Mass., 43.750
16. Shawn Johnson, West Des Moines, Iowa, 43.700
17. Casey Magee, Eugene, Ore., 39.200
18. Jessie DeZiel, Rogers, Minn., 38.800
19. Anna Li, Aurora, Ill., 28.900
20. Amanda Jetter, Milford, Ohio, 28.250
Vault
1. Alicia Sacramone, Winchester, Mass., 15.500
2. McKayla Maroney, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 15.200
3. Brandie Jay, Ft. Collins, Colo., 13.700
Uneven Bars
1. Anna Li, Aurora, Ill., 15.050
2. Mackenzie Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., 15.000
3. Gabrielle Douglas, Virginia Beach, Va., 14.550
3. Jordyn Wieber, DeWitt, Mich., 14.550
5. Chellsie Memmel, West Allis, Wis., 14.400
6. Shawn Johnson, West Des Moines, Iowa, 14.350
7. Brandie Jay, Ft. Collins, Colo., 14.300
7. Rebecca Bross, Plano, Texas, 14.300
9. Sophia Lee, Plano, Texas, 14.200
9. Amanda Jetter, Milford, Ohio, 14.200
11. Bridgette Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., 14.100
12. Grace McLaughlin, Allen, Texas, 13.600
13. McKayla Maroney, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 13.450
13. Alexandra Raisman, Needham, Mass., 13.450
15. Hallie Mossett, Los Angeles, Calif., 12.600
16. Sabrina Vega, Carmel, N.Y., 11.850
17. Jessica Howe, Plano, Texas, 11.100
Balance Beam
1. Chellsie Memmel, West Allis, Wis., 15.250
2. Alicia Sacramone, Winchester, Mass., 15.200
3. Shawn Johnson, West Des Moines, Iowa, 14.700
3. Sabrina Vega, Carmel, N.Y., 14.700
3. Alexandra Raisman, Needham, Mass., 14.700
6. Jordyn Wieber, DeWitt, Mich., 14.600
7. Grace McLaughlin, Allen, Texas, 14.050
7. Amanda Jetter, Milford, Ohio, 14.050
9. Anna Li, Aurora, Ill., 13.850
10. Sophia Lee, Plano, Texas, 13.500
11. Jessie DeZiel, Rogers, Minn., 13.450
12. McKayla Maroney, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 13.400
13. Brandie Jay, Ft. Collins, Colo., 13.250
13. Rebecca Bross, Plano, Texas, 13.250
15. Bridgette Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., 13.200
16. Jessica Howe, Plano, Texas, 12.950
17. Casey Magee, Eugene, Ore., 12.900
18. Mackenzie Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., 12.650
19. Hallie Mossett, Los Angeles, Calif., 12.400
20. Gabrielle Douglas, Virginia Beach, Va., 11.450
Floor Exercise
1. Jordyn Wieber, DeWitt, Mich., 14.900
2. Rebecca Bross, Plano, Texas, 14.850
3. Alexandra Raisman, Needham, Mass., 14.800
4. Hallie Mossett, Los Angeles, Calif., 14.450
5. Sabrina Vega, Carmel, N.Y., 14.400
6. Mackenzie Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., 13.650
6. McKayla Maroney, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 13.650
8. Chellsie Memmel, West Allis, Wis., 13.600
8. Bridgette Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., 13.600
10. Grace McLaughlin, Allen, Texas, 13.100
11. Jessie DeZiel, Rogers, Minn., 13.050
12. Brandie Jay, Ft. Collins, Colo., 12.950
12. Gabrielle Douglas, Virginia Beach, Va., 12.950
14. Jessica Howe, Plano, Texas, 12.900
15. Alicia Sacramone, Winchester, Mass., 12.800
16. Sophia Lee, Plano, Texas, 12.650
17. Casey Magee, Eugene, Ore., 12.500