HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., July 22, 2015 – More than 100 of the country’s top female gymnasts are headed to Chicagoland for the 2015 Secret U.S. Classic on July 25 at the Sears Centre. The senior field features nine World and Olympic champions, including two-time World all-around champion Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, and 2012 Olympic gold medalists Gabrielle Douglas of Virginia Beach, Va./Buckeye Gymnastics, Aly Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics, and Kyla Ross of Aliso Viejo, Calif./Gym-Max.

On July 25, the juniors compete at 1 p.m., with the seniors taking the floor at 6:30 p.m. All times are Central and subject to change. Fans can watch all the action at SecretClassic.com/live, with the senior session airing live on Universal Sports Network and online.

The Secret U.S. Classic serves as both a final tune-up for the P&G Gymnastics Championships and the final qualifier for gymnasts hoping to qualify for the P&G Championships, the national championships for USA Gymnastics and the event that determines the U.S. champions and the U.S. National Team. The 2015 P&G Championships are scheduled for Aug. 13-16 at Bankers Life Field House in Indianapolis. For more information, go to pgchamps.com.

The nine gymnasts who collectively have won 21 World and Olympic medals since 2010 include athletes who helped Team USA win the World team titles in 2011 and 2014 and the team gold medal at the Olympic Games in 2012.

  • Alyssa Baumann of Plano, Texas/WOGA: 2014 World Championships – team, gold
  • Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre: 2014 World Championships – team, all-around, balance beam, and floor exercise, gold; vault, silver; 2013 World Championships – all-around and floor exercise, gold; vault, silver; balance beam, bronze
  • Gabrielle Douglas of Virginia Beach, Va./Buckeye Gymnastics: 2011 World Championships – team, gold; 2012 Olympic Games – team and all-around, gold
  • Madison Kocian of Plano, Texas/WOGA: 2014 World Championships – team, gold
  • Ashton Locklear of Hamlet, N.C./Everest Gymnastics: 2014 World Championships – team, gold
  • Aly Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics: 2010 World Championships – silver, team; 2011 World Championships – team, gold; floor exercise, bronze; 2012 Olympic Games – team and floor exercise, gold; balance beam, bronze
  • Kyla Ross of Aliso Viejo, Calif./Gym-Max: 2012 Olympic Games – team, gold; 2013 World Championships – all-around, uneven bars and balance beam, silver; 2014 World Championships – team, gold; all-around, bronze
  • MyKayla Skinner of Gilbert, Ariz./Desert Lights: 2014 World Championships – team, gold; vault, bronze
  • Sabrina Vega of Carmel, N.Y./GAGE: 2011 World Championships – team, gold

Fans attending the Secret U.S. Classic will have the chance to enjoy some activities sponsored by Kellogg’s and get autographs from 2008 Olympic medalists Shawn Johnson and Alicia Sacramone.

Kids can have fun and gain knowledge about the importance of fitness through the interactive Kellogg’s Fitness and Nutrition Zone. This new activation features physical activities in building balance, strength, flexibility and cardiovascular exercise, all of which are fundamental to gymnastics. Sacramone and Johnson will be on hand to sign autographs for kids who participate in the zone’s activities prior to competition. Sacramone will sign autographs before the junior session, and Johnson will sign prior to the senior session. The Kellogg’s Fitness and Nutrition Zone will be located on the concourse at the Sears Centre Arena.

Guests can also get free samples of the delicious new Kellogg’s Origins products on the concourse. Kellogg’s Origins™ blends ancient and traditional grains with real fruit and nuts to create delicious cereals, granolas and mueslis.

Single-session tickets range in price from $25-$40 for the junior session and $30-$50 for the senior session plus applicable fees. All-day tickets, which include admission to both the junior and senior elite sessions, are also on sale for $125, $79, $69, $59 and $49. The platinum all-session ticket price includes an Olympian meet and greet before competition begins.

To purchase tickets, visit www.SearsCentre.com, call 1-888-SEARS-TIX, or visit the Box Office at the Sears Centre Arena. Group tickets may be purchased by calling GroupTix at 773-327-3778 or by visiting GroupTix.net. Discounted tickets are also available through local gym clubs that are participating in the Club Ticket Sales Program. For more information, go to secretclassic.com.

The Hopes Championships takes place Friday, July 24, the day prior to the Secret U.S. Classic, and tickets are $20. The Hopes Championships has two age groups, 10-11 year-old and the 12-13 year-old, and athletes qualified for the Hopes Championships from the Hopes Classic. The Hopes classification is just below the elite level, and the Hopes Championships, previously known as the U.S. Challenge, is the culmination of the Hopes athletes’ season.

USA Gymnastics is again partnering with World Sport Chicago on this event. The two organizations have worked together on the 2009 American Cup, the 2009-10 Chicago Cup, and the U.S. Classic since 2010.

Background information

  • Sears Centre Arena. Sears Centre Arena is an 11,000-seat multipurpose family entertainment, cultural, and sports arena located in Hoffman Estates’ Prairie Stone Business Park. The Sears Centre Arena, which opened in 2006, is designed to accommodate a variety of events including concerts, family shows and sporting events. For more information regarding the Sears Centre Arena and upcoming events, please visit the arena’s website at www.searscentre.com.

  • World Sport Chicago. World Sport Chicago, the legacy of Chicago’s 2016 Olympic bid, believes that sport has the power to transform lives and is dedicated to helping children in Chicago find a sport to meet their interests and abilities. The organization promotes the Olympic ideals of fitness, education and well-being by working with partner organizations to launch or expand sport programs for kids. WSC is working to introduce Chicago’s youth to the fun and benefit of sports and the ideals of fair play, teamwork, respect and leadership. For more information, go to www.worldsportchicago.org.