Five Time Olympic Medalist Nastia Liukin Joins Inaugural 2013 Pro Gymnastics Challenge As Coach

POCONOS, Pa. - March 28, 2013 - PRLog -- The first “Pro Gymnastics Challenge,” today announced that Nastia Liukin, one of the United States’ most decorated and admired Olympians, will help coach Team USA on May 10 and 11, 2013  at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pa.  The event, which will feature some of the greatest current and future male and female gymnasts, will be held in a team format, but with a very unique twist, with the competitors doing a “skill vs. skill” challenge with men competing against women for points and prize money.  The World Team will be coached by the legendary Svetlana Boguinskaia, a five-time World Champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist, while Liukin will be joined by three time Olympian Blaine Wilson coaching Team USA.

The Pro Gymnastics Challenge was created by Brent Klaus, CEO of International Gymnastics Camp, the world’s premier gymnastics facility. It will be televised as a three-part series on ESPN2 on May 20, 21 and 22.

“We are very excited that Nastia will join us as an active participant and coach in our inaugural event, Klaus said. “Her presence speaks volumes as to the support this event will be getting, and it will give us another added level of excitement for all those in attendance.”

Luikin is the 2008 Olympic All Around Champion, five time Olympic medalist, four time World Champion, nine time World medalist, four time US National Champion and has won two American Cup titles and both a Senior and Junior Pacific Rim Championship. Following her success in Beijing she was named FIG Athlete of the Year, Women’s Sports Foundation Individual Sportswoman of the Year and the United States Sports Academy’s Female Athlete of the Year.

Luikin will join athletes representing no less than 12 nations participating in the event. The U.S. team will be led by two time Olympian and silver medalist Jonathan Horton, 2012 Olympian Jacob Dalton and six time NCAA champion, Stephen Legendre, with three time World Championship silver medalist Jana Bieger  and NCAA Champion Kat Ding among those representing the women.  The world team will be led by 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Sam Oldham of Great Britain, 2012 Olympic silver medalist Marcel Nguyen of Germany, six time Olympian and gold medalist Oksana Chusovitina of Uzbekistan, Brazil 2016 hopefuls  Petrix and Jade Barbosa and Daniele and Diego Hypolito, and two time Olympian Anna Pavlova of Russia among others.

Tickets for the event are now on sale via the Professional Gymnastics Challenge website at professionalgymnastics.com.

About Stabler Arena

Stabler Arena is the Northeast’s most intimate arena, and home of Lehigh University Basketball and Wrestling.  Stabler is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena with more than thirty years in the sports, event and entertainment industries.  We’re a proud community play offering exciting events and shows for residents of the tri-state area.