Rehearsals conclude for Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions that begins Sept. 8

Ontario, California - The 11-day rehearsal period for the Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions wrapped up today in Ontario, Calif., with three final rehearsals, a media sneak peek and plenty of action. Unlike any event gymnastics fans have seen, the Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions combines gymnastics skills with choreography, athletics with art.

A show full of color, action and the top gymnasts in the United States was fine-tuned at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. From there, the athletes embark on the Kellogg’s Tour, which officially begins on Saturday in San Jose, Calif., the site of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials—Gymnastics.

"This tour is a lot different than the previous tour I was on,” said Nastia Liukin, who was part of the Tour’s creative team and has nine World and five Olympic career medals.. “Being on the creative team has been really fun for me – I've gotten to see it all come together from ground zero to being ready for our first performance tomorrow. The styles are so different. We go from a hip hop routine to a beautiful lyrical number on the beam.  I think it's so cool that you don't know what to expect next."

The cast roster includes: The Fierce Five – Gabrielle Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Alexandra Raisman, Kyla Ross and Jordyn Wieber; 2012 Olympians Jake Dalton, Steven Gluckstein, Jonathan Horton, John Orozco, Savannah Vinsant and Julie Zetlin; 2008 Olympic all-around champion Liukin; 2008 Olympic silver medalists Jonathan Horton, Chellsie Memmel and Alicia Sacramone; and World medalists Kristin Allen, Rebecca Bross, Steven Legendre, Alex Naddour, Michael Rodrigues, Sabrina Vega and Brandon Wynn. Due to athletes’ schedules and personal commitments, the cast will vary from stop to stop. For a complete cast list, go to www.kelloggstour.com.  1996 Olympian John Macready and 2004 Olympian Mary Sanders are also part of the Kellogg’s Tour. The cast of gymnastics champions will be joined by local gymnasts at each tour stop.

"I'm so excited for the Kellogg's Tour,” said Horton, who competed in both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. “It's a once in a lifetime experience with a great cast and something our fans won't want to miss."

"The rehearsals have been going so well,” said Douglas, who won the 2012 all-around title.  “It's so exciting to be getting ready to put on this show and give our fans something they've never seen from us before."

During the Kellogg’s Tour, young fans can make their own great starts at the Kellogg’s Fitness and Nutrition Zone at each of the 40 tour stops. The zone will feature activities which will help increase strength, flexibility and cardiovascular stamina. Kids can have fun and gain knowledge about the importance of fitness by participating in some of the same activities as their gymnastics idols. Fans can also learn about the athletes’ inspirational beginnings through a series of online “Start Story” videos that follow their journeys which can be viewed at Kelloggs.com/teamusa.

Tickets may be purchased through the venues hosting the Kellogg’s Tour across the country. Ticket prices range from $25-$240 and vary by market and seat location. Platinum and Gold VIP Packages are available in most markets and include special athlete access and a commemorative gold medal. A complete schedule for the Kellogg’s Tour is listed below, but to find the stop nearest you and order tickets, please visit www.KelloggsTour.com.

It also will be easy to follow your favorite gymnasts and the tour: online, kelloggstour.com; Facebook, USAGymnastics; and Twitter, #kelloggstour and @usagym. Visit Facebook.com/Kelloggs to find out more about the Power of Breakfast and find the Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions stop nearest you.

The Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions is produced by USA Gymnastics in partnership with AEG Facilities. Kellogg Company is the exclusive title sponsor, and Procter & Gamble, Hilton HHonors and AT&T are official supporting partners. American Athletic, Inc., and GK Elite are official suppliers.

Kellogg’s has been helping people start their day right for more than 100 years, believing great starts, both big and small, create the potential for great days, every day.

Vinsant, Gluckstein earn Olympic trampoline berths

SAN JOSE, California — Savannah Vinsant of Newton, Texas/Trampoline and Tumbling Express, and Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Heights, N.J./ETA Gymnastics, will represent the United States in trampoline at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, pending approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee Board of Directors. Both won their respective U.S. trampoline titles at the 2012 USA Gymnastics Trampoline Championships at the San Jose (Calif.) Convention Center, which served as the final qualifying event for Olympic selection.

"I'm speechless – I have no words for it," said Vinsant, who won all three selection events. "I'm filled with joy and I'm at peace that it's over. I had a big group of girls out there with me this year who were awesome, and they definitely kept me on my toes all year. I'm honored to be representing Team USA."

"It's surreal right now," said Gluckstein, who also took top honors at all three selection events. "The greatest thing right now is the relief. I'm the kind of person who puts a lot of stress and a lot of pressure on myself, and it's just been building since we qualified (for the Games) in January.

"We have such an amazing team with all the finalists here," said Gluckstein, "and I knew it was going to be tough, but my dream is coming true and right now I'm ecstatic."

Earlier in the day, the men's and women's teams of Michael Devine of Winnebago, Ill./J and J Tumbling and Trampoline Team, and Jeffrey Gluckstein of Atlantic Heights, N.J./ETA Gymnastics, and Landry and Alicia Powder of Ladera Ranch, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, earned this year's synchronized trampoline national titles.

Vinsant won the U.S. title after scoring a 53.140 for her routine in the finals and posting a 153.195 total, which clinched her ticket to London. Shanelle Landry of Lafayette, La./ETA Gymnastics, was second at 149.655, followed by Dakota Earnest of Plains, Texas/Acrospirits with a 148.880.

Gluckstein won the men's title with his 56.355, sealing his Olympic berth. Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, was second with his 56.150, followed by Jeffrey Gluckstein of Atlantic Heights, N.J./ETA Gymnastics, in third at 55.105.

The USA Gymnastics Championships was the third and final event in for ranking competitors to determine the men's and women's Olympic slots. Of the three competitions, which also included the Elite Challenge and Stars & Stripes Cup, the lowest point score was dropped for each competitor when figuring total score.

In synchronized trampoline, Landry and Powder won the women's final with a 137.900, defeating Audrey Ghanian of Holmdel, N.J./ETA Gymnastics, and Deana Parris of Burtonsville, Md./Fairland Gymnastics, who finished at 106.800.

Devine and Jeffrey Gluckstein earned a 137.900, followed by Steven Gluckstein and Dooley at 130.900. Hunter Brewster of Lafayette, La./Trampoline and Tumbling Express, and Neil Gulati of Irvine, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, were third at 89.800.

2012 USA Gymnastics Trampoline Championships
San Jose Convention Center
San Jose, Calif.

Women's Trampoline Finals
1. Savannah Vinsant of Newton, Texas/Trampoline and Tumbling Express, 153.195
2. Shanelle Landry, Lafayette, La./ETA Gymnastics, 149.655
3. Dakota Earnest of Plains, Texas/Acrospirits, 148.880
4. Hayley Butcher, Saint John, Ind./Midwest Training and Ice Center, 144.315
5. Alicia Powder, Ladera Ranch, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, 143.380
6. Alaina Williams, Norman, Okla./Acrospirits, 141.865
7. Audrey Ghanian, Holmdel, N.J./ETA Gymnastics, 138.685
8. Erica Owen, Mission Viejo, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, 136.895

Men's Trampoline Finals
1. Steven Gluckstein, Atlantic Highlands, N.J./ETA, 56.355
2. Logan Dooley, Forest Hills, Calif./World Elite, 56.150
3. Jeffrey Gluckstein, Atlantic Highlands, N.J./ETA, 55.105
4. Neil Gulati, Irvine, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, 54.915
5. Michael Devine, Winnebago, Ill./J and J Tumbling and Trampoline Team, 54.590
6. Hunter Brewster, Lafayette, La./Trampoline and Tumbling Express, 53.195
7. Casey Chandler. Reno, Nevada/Legacy Trampoline and Tumbling, 51.680
8. Tanner Page, Bellevue, Wash./Action Athletics Inc., 51.170

Background information

San Jose Convention Center. The San Jose Convention Center offers plenty of versatile space: 143,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space; room for 1,000 10' x 10' booths; a 22,000-square-foot ballroom; 100,000 square feet of pre-function space; 31 meeting rooms with capacities from 50 to 2,400 in theater-style seating; and banquet seating and kitchen facilities for 5,000. The convention center was the site for the 2007 USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show and the rhythmic gymnastics competition for the 2007 Visa Championships.

San Jose Sports Authority. The San Jose Sports Authority is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the City of San Jose's economic development, visibility and civic pride through sports. Serving as the City's sports commission since its inception in 1991, the Sports Authority has provided leadership and support to attract and host hundreds of sporting events in San Jose and the South Bay. The Sports Authority also supports and operates community, youth and amateur sports programs, including the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, The First Tee of San Jose, and the REACH Youth Scholarship Program. To learn more, visit www.sjsa.org.

Gluckstein, Vinsant lead after preliminaries at 2012 USA Gymnastics Trampoline Championships

SAN JOSE, California  — Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Heights, N.J./ETA Gymnastics, and Savannah Vinsant of Newton, Texas/Trampoline and Tumbling Express, finished first in the preliminary round of the 2012 USA Gymnastics Trampoline Championships in San Jose, Calif. The finals are set for today, June 27, when the men's and women's spots on the U.S. Olympic Team will be determined, pending approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee Board of Directors.
Gluckstein, who currently leads the 2012 Olympic Selection Rankings, led the field with a 104.135, followed by Jeffery Gluckstein of Atlantic Heights, N.J./ETA Gymnastics, at 102.470 and Michael Devine of Winnebago, Ill./J and J Tumbling and Trampoline Team, with a 102.305.

"There's a lot of pressure going on and I was definitely feeling it," said Gluckstein. After that first shaky routine, it kind of lit a fire that I needed. my second routine was much better."

Eight of the men advanced to the June 27 final: Hunter Brewster of Lafayette, La./Trampoline and Tumbling Express; Casey Chandler of Reno, Nevada/Legacy Trampoline and Tumbling; Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics; Neil Gulati of Irvine, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics; Tanner Page of Bellevue, Wash./Action Athletics Inc.; Jeffery Gluckstein; Steven Gluckstein; and Devine.

Steven Gluckstein currently leads the 2012 Olympic Games Rankings, followed by Jeffery Gluckstein and Dooley. The USA Gymnastics Championships is the third and final event in for ranking competitors to determine the men's and women's Olympic slots. Of the three competitions, which also include the Elite Challenge and Stars & Stripes Cup, the lowest score is dropped for each competitor when figuring total score.

In women's competition, Vinsant scored highest with a 100.055, trailed by Dakota Earnest of Plains, Texas/Acrospirits, with a 96.455 and Shanelle Landry of Lafayette, La./ETA Gymnastics, at 96.330.

"Anything can happen," said Vinsant, who would clinch an Olympic berth with a win on June 27. "I'm very confident, I'm at peace after tonight, so I'm just going to go out there and give it my all like it's my last."

Eight women advanced to the June 27 final, with today's scores added to the second night results for a two-day total: Hayley Butcher of Saint John, Ind./Midwest Training and Ice Center; Audrey Ghanian of Holmdel, N.J./ETA Gymnastics; Erica Owen of Mission Viejo, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics; Alicia Powder of Ladera Ranch, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics; Alaina Williams of Norman, Okla./Acrospirits; Earnest; Landry; and Vinsant.

Women's preliminary results mirrored the 2012 Olympic Games Rankings top-three, with Vinsant, Earnest and Landry leading the field, respectively.

Men's and women's finals are at 7 p.m. PST on June 27 at the San Jose Convention Center.

Background information

San Jose Convention Center. The San Jose Convention Center offers plenty of versatile space: 143,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space; room for 1,000 10' x 10' booths; a 22,000-square-foot ballroom; 100,000 square feet of pre-function space; 31 meeting rooms with capacities from 50 to 2,400 in theater-style seating; and banquet seating and kitchen facilities for 5,000. The convention center was the site for the 2007 USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show and the rhythmic gymnastics competition for the 2007 Visa Championships.

San Jose Sports Authority. The San Jose Sports Authority is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the City of San Jose's economic development, visibility and civic pride through sports. Serving as the City's sports commission since its inception in 1991, the Sports Authority has provided leadership and support to attract and host hundreds of sporting events in San Jose and the South Bay. The Sports Authority also supports and operates community, youth and amateur sports programs, including the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, The First Tee of San Jose, and the REACH Youth Scholarship Program. To learn more, visit www.sjsa.org.