TAIPEI, Taiwan, Aug. 18, 2017 – Five men, representing four U.S. universities, will compete in the gymnastics competition at the 2017 World University Games, scheduled for Aug. 19-23 in Taipei, Taiwan. The Collegiate Coaches Association, member National Collegiate Athletic Association institutions and USA Gymnastics joined efforts to field the men’s team, with some funding provided through an international development grant from the National Gymnastics Foundation.

The five men, chosen by the World University Games Selection Committee, who will represent the U.S. are: Levi Anderson of Houston/University of Oklahoma; Alex Diab of Glen Ellyn, Ill./University of Illinois; Tristan Duran of Franklin Lakes, N.J./University of Minnesota; Vitali Kan of West Allis, Wis./University of Minnesota; and Robert Neff of Brookfield, Wis./Stanford University, who is also a member of the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team. Stanford’s Karl Ziehn will coach the team.

The competition includes team, all-around and individual event finals. For the team competition, four men compete on each event, with the top three scores counting toward the team score. Artistic gymnastics will be held in the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1, 4F. For more information about the 2017 World University Games, go to http://old.2017.gov.taipei/home.php.

The competition schedule is:

  • Aug. 19, opening ceremonies
  • Aug. 20-21, team finals and preliminaries for the all-around and event finals. The U.S. competes on Aug. 20 at 12 p.m. local time in subdivision 2.
  • Aug. 22, all-around finals, 2 p.m. local time
  • Aug. 23, individual event finals, 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time

The World University Games are held every other year and are organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The event is a multi-sport competition open to men and women who are between the ages of 17 and 24, and are, or have been within the past year, a student at a college or university. The summer World University Games consist of 10 compulsory sports with 13 compulsory disciplines and up to 3 optional sports chosen by the host country.

Established in 1950, the College Gymnastics Association is the body that represents the coaches the NCAA varsity programs in the United States. The organization’s four main purposes are: to perpetuate and improve the sport of gymnastics in U.S. colleges; to encourage U.S. schools, colleges, and universities to support gymnastics teams as a part of their interscholastic or intercollegiate programs; to coordinate its efforts with all other agencies promoting gymnastics by stipulating its collective opinions through its seat on the Advisory Council of USA Gymnastics; and to give concrete recognition for outstanding contributions to the sport of gymnastics by groups, individuals and events. For more information, go to http://cga.roadtonationals.com.