AT&T American Cup Preview
USA gymnastics kicks off the Olympic year in Madison Square Garden at the 2012 AT&T American Cup. The event is mandated as a World Cup event by the International Gymnastics Federation.
Some of USA’s top gymnasts are featured, giving fans and gymnastics addicts a taste of the London Olympic Games. In the international field are gymnasts from Australia, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Romania and Ukraine.
The field for the 2012 AT&T American Cup:
- Men
USA: Danell Leyva
USA: John Orozco
Canada: Jackson Payne
Germany: Marcel Nguyen
Great Britain: Daniel Purvis
Japan: Ryuzo Sejima
Ukraine: Oleg Verniaiev
Ukraine: Mykola Kuksenkov
Levya and Orozco are a duo to look out for from the USA. Levya is the current U.S. all-around champion and won the title on the parallel bars at the World Championships. Orozco took third in the all-around at Visa Championships and fifth at the World Championships. Great Britain’s Purvis, a threat on the all-around, took fourth in the event at the 2011 Worlds. All of the competitors are talented all-arounders and this meet will show a true preview of what the field looks like for London.
- Women
USA: Alexandra Raisman
USA: Jordyn Wieber
Australia: Georgia Simpson
Canada: Victoria Moors
Germany: Lisa Hill
Great Britain: Rebecca Tunney
Romania: Diana Chelaru
Romania: Larisa Iordache
Wieber is the crowd favorite for the women’s all-around title as the reigning U.S., World and AT&T American Cup all-around champion. I think it will take a lot to stop Wieber during her hot streak although teammate Raisman seems to be right on her heels. Hill and Chelaru competed in the 2011 World Championships while Tunney, Iordache, Simpson and Moors have international experience. I believe the competition will be between Raisman and Wieber. They are the only gymnasts who have participated in the American cup before and seem ready to go.