1996 U.S. Women’s Olympic Team celebration is planned for 2011 AT&T American Cup & Three gymnasts added to competitive field

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) February 17, 2011 -- A celebration of the 15th anniversary of the 1996 U.S. Women’s Olympic Team’s winning the Olympic team title will be included as part of the activities surrounding the 2011 AT&T American Cup, an International Gymnastics Federation World Cup event that is scheduled for March 5 at the Jacksonville, Florida Veterans Memorial Arena. In other news, three athletes are added to the AT&T American Cup field, replacing gymnasts who have been injured.

Jacksonville’s Shannon Miller will join five of her 1996 Olympic teammates – Amanda Borden, Amy Chow, Dominique Moceanu, Jaycie Phelps and Kerri Strug – in a celebration of their outstanding achievement. The USA won its first women’s Olympic team gold medal on July 23, 1996. As millions around the world watched, the U.S. Team’s outstanding performance built its lead over Russia in the team competition. Strug’s valiant landing on her second vault (despite an injured ankle) produced one of the Games’ lasting memories. Her 9.712 vault secured the U.S. Team’s clinching the team gold medal with a 389.225 total, outscoring Russia and Romania.

As shared by Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics, “The stunning performance by these women in Atlanta is indelibly etched in U.S. Olympic history. They were truly magnificent, as was the moment.”

"This will be a very special time," said Shannon Miller, the USA's most decorated gymnast. "It's hard to believe it was 15 years ago that we had the honor of representing our country on the world stage and bringing home Olympic gold."

2010 World all-around champion Aliya Mustafina of Russia, 2010 World all-around silver-medalist Philipp Boy of Germany and 2010 World all-around bronze-medalist Jonathan Horton of Houston headline the strong field. 2010 World all-around finalist Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass., is the USA’s female competitor. The three gymnasts added to the field are: men – Samuel Hunter of Great Britain, and Cyril Tommasone of France, who finished ninth and 13th, respectively, in the all-around at the 2010 World Championships; and women – Hannah Whelan of Great Britain, who was 16th in the 2010 World all-around finals. They replace Japan’s Kohei Uchimura and China’s Lu Bo and Jiang Yuyuan.

Tickets to the event are on sale now, and range from $29.50 to $100. Tickets may be purchased through Ticketmaster by phone at 800-745-3000; online at www.ticketmaster.com; at all Ticketmaster outlets; through participating gym clubs; or at the Veterans Memorial Arena Box Office. Visa is the preferred method of payment.

Two special ticket packages offer added access for the AT&T American Cup. A limited number of Shannon Miller Lifestyle VIP packages are available. Packages include VIP seats, pre-event hospitality, an autographed poster, and the opportunity to meet Shannon and other Olympians. Learn more and order this package - http://www.shannonmillerlifestyle.com. Through Ticketmaster Auction, fans submit bids for a package including VIP seats, free pre-event hospitality, a poster autographed by the athletes competing in the AT&T American Cup, and their picture taken on the competition floor with the 2011 AT&T American Cup champions; for more, go to http://www.ticketmaster.com/auction/2200453BD1065878/?tm_link=edp_auction.

The Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup, featuring 36 of the country’s rising young gymnasts, will be March 4 at 7 p.m. Event proceeds benefit the Nastia Liukin Fund, part of the National Gymnastics Foundation. General admission tickets for the Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup are $25 through Ticketmaster, except for AT&T American Cup ticket holders, who may purchase them for $5 through participating gymnastics clubs (listed at www.nastialiukinsupergirlcup.com).

- AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. For additional information, see http://www.att.com.

- The JEDC Sports & Entertainment office enhances the region's economy by attracting special events and sports organizations to the First Coast. Visit www.jaxdevelopment.org.

- Shannon Miller is the most decorated American gymnast, male or female, in history, having won more Olympic and World Championship medals than any other American gymnast. She has earned seven Olympic medals and nine World Championships medals since her debut in 1990. In 2007, she began the Shannon Miller Foundation, which is dedicated to fighting childhood obesity. She recently launched Shannon Miller Lifestyle, a website and line of books and videos dedicated to health and fitness for women.

- The Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup is scheduled for March 4, 2011, at the Veterans Memorial Arena, the evening prior to the AT&T American Cup. For more information, go to www.nastialiukinsupergirlcup.com.

- Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States.  See www.usagym.org.

1996 U.S. Women s Olympic Team     2011 AT T American Cup     Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup     shannon miller lifestyle