LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – 2016 Olympian Laura Zeng of Libertyville, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, and 2016 Olympic alternate Camilla Feeley of Highland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, are among the 233 rhythmic gymnasts set to compete at the 2017 Rhythmic National Qualifier, May 19-21, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y. Based on performances at the qualifier, 25 junior and 20 senior gymnasts will advance to the USA Gymnastics Championships, the discipline’s national championships. The following weekend, Lake Placid will also host the Rhythmic Open Championships, a Junior Olympic competition, May 26-29, at Jack Shea Olympic Arena. 

Rhythmic National Qualifier

Performances at the 2017 Rhythmic National Qualifier will allow the top 25 juniors and 20 seniors in ranking order to earn a berth to the 2017 USA Gymnastics Championships, June 27-July 2 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where national titles and spots on the U.S. National Team will be determined. The qualifier features 11 national team members: Brigita Budginas of Agoura Hills, Calif./California Rhythms; Eliza Cohen of Los Angeles/California Rhythms; Karrine Denisova of Wilmette, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center; Feeley; Ekatherina Kapitonova of Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora; Elizabeth Kapitonova of Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora; Serena Lu of Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora; Matylda Marszalek of Highland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center; Lili Mizuno of Brentwood, Calif./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center; Shannon Xiao of Fairfax, Va./Gymnastics World; and Zeng. The qualifier will be used as part of the selection process for international assignments.

Tickets are available through the Olympic Center box office and at the door. Daily admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and seniors 65 and older. Adult all-session tickets are $25, while all-session tickets for children and seniors are $15.

The competition schedule is listed below. 

Friday, May 19

8:45 – 9:40 a.m. – Level 9 hopes

9:40 a.m. – 6:50 p.m. – Level 9 juniors

7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Level 10 juniors

Saturday, May 20

8:45 – 12:50 p.m. – Level 9 juniors and hopes

1:30 p.m. – 6:50 p.m. – Level 9 juniors

7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Level 10 juniors and hopes

Sunday, May 21

8:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m. – Group exhibition

8:55 – 11:45 a.m.  – Level 10 seniors

12:15 – 5:25 p.m. – Level 9 seniors

5:25 – 5:35 p.m. – Group exhibition

For more information on the event, please visit https://usagym.org/pages/rhythmic/events/2017/natqual.html.

Rhythmic Open Championships

In conjunction with the Rhythmic National Qualifier, Lake Placid will also host the Rhythmic Open Championships, a four-day Junior Olympic event featuring 377 gymnasts. Competition will take place May 26-29 at Jack Shea Olympic Arena, a historic site that served as a venue for the 1932 Olympic Games. The contest begins Friday, May 26, at 8:30 a.m. ET, and concludes with the Level 6 session on Monday, May 29, at 5 p.m. ET. All events are open to the public and tickets are available onsite. Additional event information, including a full schedule, can be found at usagym.org/pages/rhythmic/events/2017/openchamps.html.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States.  Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport.  Its disciplines include men's and women's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics, and Gymnastics for All (formerly known as group gymnastics).  For more information, log on to www.usagym.org.

-- ORDA --

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.