The March 5 American Cup lineups are, according to USA Gymnastics's just-released release:
MEN:
USA: Jonathan Horton, Texas
Germany: Philipp Boy
Japan: Kohei Uchimura
Japan: Koji Uematsu
China: Lu Bo
Great Britain: Daniel Purvis
Russia: Sergey Khorokhordin
Ukraine: Mykola Kuksenkov
WOMEN:
USA: Alexandra Raisman, Massachusetts
Russia: Aliya Mustafina
China: Jiang Yuyuan
China: Huang Qiushuang
Australia: Lauren Mitchell
Venezuela: Jessica Lopez
Switzerland: Ariella Kaeslin
Germany: Elisabeth Seitz
This is one heck of a good American Cup lineup -- perhaps the best the meet has ever had. World champions Kohei Uchimura and Aliya Mustafina will be heavily favored. Both seemed invincible in Rotterdam only three months ago.
Too bad neither of last year's champions -- Rebecca Bross and Maxim Devyatovskiy -- will be defending their titles. Also missing will be perennial American Cup competitor Fabian Hambuechen, who tore his Achilles tendon about a week ago.
But it's hard to be too upset when the top eight in the world (men's) and six in the top 10 (women's) will be competing. As an official FIG World Cup event, the top eight in the world in the all-around were invited, and as gymnasts declined, the invitations moved down the list. What's stunning is that the top eight on the men's side have all accepted to come.
On the women's side, Seitz finished 12th all-around in Rottedam, Raisman 13th. Declining invitations, therefore, were Romanians Ana Porgras (5th) and Raluca Haidu (9th), Russia's Tatiana Nabieva (7th), and Vanessa Ferrari of Italy (11th).
Related: Your take -- can anyone in the field stop Uchimura or Mustafina? Please leave a comment below!
Also related: Check out a photo gallery of American Cup competitors
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Comments
"Declining invitations, therefore, were Romanians Ana Porgras (5th), Tatiana Nabieva (7th), Raluca Haidu (9th) and Vanessa Ferrari (11th)"
They all aren't Romanians though. It should have been worded better. Here's an example to clarify for non-gymnastics fans:
"Declining invitations, therefore, were Romanian Ana Porgras (5th), [Russian] Tatiana Nabieva (7th), [Romanian] Raluca Haidu (9th) and [Italian] Vanessa Ferrari (11th)"
Thanks for the clarification, Jenny. Fixed! -- Blythe
Rebecca Bross must have also declined the invitation. I know you pointed her out earlier but she would also be in the list at the bottom
Bross is recovering from surgery.
both chinese gymnasts can beat Mustafina
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