American Cup (gymnastics)
The American Cup, currently known as the AT&T American Cup through a sponsorship arrangement, is an elite senior level international gymnastics competition held in the United States, and is generally considered to be one of the first major competitions of the Gymnastics season, as it is held in March or February of each year. In 2011, it became a part of the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG) Artistic Gymnastics World Cup series. With the exception of 2005, it has been exclusively an all-around competition. Past champions have included Olympic all around champions Nadia Comăneci, Mary Lou Retton, Vitaly Scherbo, Paul Hamm, Carly Patterson, and Nastia Liukin. The American Cup has been controversial, with accusations of biased judging in favor of American gymnasts in the past (as well as the seemingly lopsided presence of top American women gymnasts with the rest of the foreign field not as high caliber). [1] Since becoming part of the FIG World Cup Series in 2011, the field of competitors is determined by FIG rules and is based on gymnast's placement at the previous World Championships or Olympic Games. It also features an international panel of judges.
Past women's champions
Year |
Location |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
1976 | New York, NY |
Nadia Comăneci (ROU) |
Kathy Howard (USA) |
Elena Davydova (URS) |
1977 | New York, NY |
Kathy Johnson (USA) |
Donna Turnbow (USA) |
Marta Egervari (HUN) Karen Kelsall (CAN) |
1978 | New York, NY |
Natasha Tereschenko (URS) |
Kathy Johnson (USA) |
Eva Mareckova (TCH) |
1979 | New York, NY |
Stella Zakharova (URS) |
Maxi Gnauck (GDR) |
Tracee Talavera (USA) |
1980 | New York, NY |
Tracee Talavera (USA) |
Emilia Eberle (ROU) |
Marcia Frederick (USA) |
1981 | Fort Worth, TX |
Julianne McNamara (USA) |
Tracee Talavera (USA) Huang Qun (CHN) Lavinia Agache (ROU) |
none awarded |
1982 | New York, NY |
Julianne McNamara (USA) Zoja Grantcharova (BUL) |
none awarded |
Tracee Talavera (USA) |
1983 | New York, NY |
Mary Lou Retton (USA) |
Julianne McNamara (USA) |
Alena Drevjana (TCH) |
1984 | New York, NY |
Mary Lou Retton (USA) |
Laura Cutina (ROU) |
Julianne McNamara (USA) |
1985 | Indianapolis, IN |
Mary Lou Retton (USA) |
Yu Feng (CHN) |
Daniela Silivaș (ROU) |
1986 | Fairfax, VA |
Kristie Phillips (USA) |
Boriana Stoyanova (BUL) |
Irina Baraksanova (URS) |
1987 | Fairfax, VA |
Kristie Phillips (USA) |
Olga Strazheva (URS) |
Phoebe Mills (USA) |
1988 | Fairfax, VA |
Phoebe Mills (USA) |
Svetlana Baitova (URS) |
Chelle Stack (USA) |
1989 | Fairfax, VA |
Brandy Johnson (USA) |
Olesya Dudnik (URS) |
Henrietta Onodi (HUN) |
1990 | Fairfax, VA |
Kim Zmeskal (USA) |
Natalia Kalinina (URS) |
Mari Kosuge (JPN) |
1991 | Orlando, FL |
Betty Okino (USA) |
Kim Zmeskal (USA) |
Ludmila Stovbchataya (URS) |
1992 | Orlando, FL |
Kim Zmeskal (USA) |
Henrietta Onodi (HUN) |
Shannon Miller (USA) |
1993 | Orlando, FL |
Shannon Miller (USA) |
Kerri Strug (USA) |
Elena Piskun (BLR) |
1994 | Orlando, FL |
Dominique Dawes (USA) |
Vasiliki Tsavdaridou (GRE) |
Elena Piskun (BLR) |
1995 | Seattle, WA |
Kristy Powell (USA) |
Ana Maria Bican (ROU) |
Amanda Borden (USA) |
1996 | Fort Worth, TX |
Kerri Strug (USA) |
Svetlana Boginskaya (BLR) |
Oksana Chusovitina (UZB) |
1997 | Fort Worth, TX |
Elvire Teza (FRA) |
Vanessa Atler (USA) |
Ji Liya (CHN) |
1998 | Fort Worth, TX |
Viktoria Karpenko (UKR) |
Meng Fei (CHN) |
Kristen Maloney (USA) |
1999 | St. Petersburg, FL |
Jennie Thompson (USA) |
Elena Produnova (RUS) |
Vanessa Atler (USA) |
2000 | Orlando, FL |
Elena Produnova (RUS) |
Morgan White (USA) |
Laura Martinez (ESP) |
2001 | Orlando, FL |
Elena Zamolodchikova (RUS) |
Laura Martinez (ESP) |
Kristal Uzelac (USA) |
2002 | Orlando, FL |
Tasha Schwikert (USA) |
Courtney Kupets (USA) |
Verona van de Leur (NED) |
2003 | Fairfax, VA |
Carly Patterson (USA) |
Courtney Kupets (USA) |
Ashley Postell (USA) |
2004 | New York, NY |
Carly Patterson (USA) |
Courtney McCool (USA) |
Chellsie Memmel (USA) |
2005 | Uniondale, NY |
VT: Alicia Sacramone (USA) UB: Chellsie Memmel (USA) BB: Zhang Nan (CHN), Nastia Liukin (USA) FX: Patricia Moreno (ESP) |
VT: Melanie Sinclair (USA) UB: Liu Juan (CHN) BB: none awarded FX: Alicia Sacramone (USA) |
VT: Cheng Fei (CHN) UB: Tania Gener (ESP) BB: Chellsie Memmel (USA) FX: Beth Tweddle (GBR) |
2006 | Philadelphia, PA |
Nastia Liukin (USA) |
Shayla Worley (USA) |
Aisha Gerber (CAN) |
2007 | Jacksonville, FL |
Shawn Johnson (USA) |
Natasha Kelley (USA) |
Elsa Garcia (MEX) |
2008 | New York, NY |
Nastia Liukin (USA) |
Shawn Johnson (USA) |
Samantha Peszek (USA) |
2009 | Chicago, Il |
Jordyn Wieber (USA) |
Bridget Sloan (USA) |
Kim Bui (GER) |
2010 | Worcester, MA |
Rebecca Bross (USA) |
Aly Raisman (USA) |
Jessica López (VEN) |
2011 | Jacksonville, FL |
Jordyn Wieber (USA) |
Aliya Mustafina (RUS) |
Aly Raisman (USA) |
2012 | New York, NY |
Jordyn Wieber (USA) |
Aly Raisman (USA) |
Larisa Iordache (ROU) |
2013 | Worcester, MA |
Katelyn Ohashi (USA) |
Simone Biles (USA) |
Victoria Moors (CAN) |
2014 | Greensboro, NC |
Elizabeth Price (USA) |
Brenna Dowell (USA) |
Giulia Steingruber (SUI) |
2015 | Arlington, TX |
Simone Biles (USA) |
MyKayla Skinner (USA) |
Erika Fasana (ITA) |
2016 | Newark, NJ |
Gabby Douglas (USA) |
Maggie Nichols (USA) |
Ellie Black (CAN) |
Past men's champions
Year |
Location |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
1976 | New York, NY |
Bart Conner (USA) |
Dănuț Grecu (ROU) Vladimir Markelov (URS) |
none awarded |
1977 | New York, NY |
Mitsuo Tsukahara (JPN) |
Kurt Thomas (USA) |
Toshiaki Nishiki (JPN) |
1978 | New York, NY |
Kurt Thomas (USA) |
Roland Brückner (GDR) |
Bart Conner (USA) |
1979 | New York, NY |
Kurt Thomas (USA) |
Bogdan Makuts (URS) |
Junichi Shimizu (JPN) |
1980 | New York, NY |
Kurt Thomas (USA) |
Bart Conner (USA) |
Stoyan Deltchev (BUL) |
1981 | Fort Worth, TX |
Bart Conner (USA) |
Jim Hartung (USA) |
Li Yuejiu (CHN) |
1982 | New York, NY |
Bart Conner (USA) |
Peter Vidmar (USA) |
Alexander Pogorelov (URS) |
1983 | New York, NY |
Peter Vidmar (USA) |
Mitch Gaylord (USA) |
Hiroyuki Onoda (JPN) |
1984 | New York, NY |
Peter Vidmar (USA) |
Jim Hartung (USA) |
Yang Yueshan (CHN) |
1985 | Indianapolis, IN |
Tim Daggett (USA) |
Tang Yueshan (CHN) |
Koji Sotomura (JPN) |
1986 | Fairfax, VA |
Alexei Tikhonkikh (URS) |
Brian Ginsberg (USA) |
Wang Chongsheng (CHN) |
1987 | Fairfax, VA |
Brian Ginsberg (USA) |
Vladimir Gogoladze (URS) |
Scott Johnson (USA) |
1988 | Fairfax, VA |
Marius Toba (ROM) |
Igor Korobchinsky (URS) |
Kevin Davis (USA) |
1989 | Fairfax, VA |
Vitaly Marinitch (URS) |
Lance Ringnald (USA) |
Patrick Kirksey (USA) |
1990 | Fairfax, VA |
Alexander Kolyvanov (URS) |
Lance Ringnald (USA) |
Ralf Büchner (GDR) |
1991 | Orlando, FL |
Trent Dimas (USA) |
Chris Waller (USA) |
Miguel Rubio (ESP) |
1992 | Orlando, FL |
Jarrod Hanks (USA) |
Scott Keswick (USA) |
Dimitri Karbanenko (CIS) |
1993 | Orlando, FL |
Vitaly Scherbo (BLR) |
Lance Ringnald (USA) |
Andreas Wecker (GER) |
1994 | Orlando, FL |
Vitaly Scherbo (BLR) |
John Roethlisberger (USA) |
Oliver Walther (GER) |
1995 | Seattle, WA |
John Roethlisberger (USA) |
Dmitri Vasilenko (RUS) |
Rustam Sharipov (UKR) |
1996 | Fort Worth, TX |
John Roethlisberger (USA) |
Jair Lynch (USA) |
Ilia Giogadze (GEO) |
1997 | Fort Worth, TX |
Blaine Wilson (USA) |
Fan Hongbin (CHN) |
Valeri Belenki (GER) |
1998 | Fort Worth, TX |
Blaine Wilson (USA) |
Alexei Bondarenko (RUS) |
Dimitri Karbanenko (FRA) |
1999 | St. Petersburg, FL |
Blaine Wilson (USA) |
Jason Gatson (USA) |
Yordan Yovchev (BUL) |
2000 | Orlando, FL |
Eric Lopez Rios (CUB) |
Alexei Bondarenko (RUS) |
John Roethlisberger (USA) |
2001 | Orlando, FL |
Blaine Wilson (USA) |
Sean Townsend (USA) |
Eric Lopez Rios (CUB) |
2002 | Orlando, FL |
Eric Lopez Rios (CUB) |
Paul Hamm (USA) |
Hiroyuki Tomita (JPN) |
2003 | Fairfax, VA |
Blaine Wilson (USA) |
Brett McClure (USA) |
Hiroyuki Tomita (JPN) |
2004 | New York, NY |
Jason Gatson (USA) |
Marian Drăgulescu (ROU) |
Paul Hamm (USA) |
2005 | Uniondale, NY |
FX: Jeffrey Wammes (NED) PH: Alexander Artemev (USA) SR: Yuri Van Gelder (NED) VT: Jeffrey Wammes (NED) PB: Kazuya Ueda (JPN) HB: Yann Cucherat (FRA) |
FX: Alexander Artemev (USA) PH: Hisashi Mizutori (JPN) SR: Yordan Yovchev (BUL) VT: Roel Ramirez (PHI) PB: Luis Vargas (PUR) HB: Hisashi Mizutori (JPN) |
FX: Luis Rivera (PUR) PH: Robert Seligman (CRO) SR: Eric La Morte (USA) VT: Luis Rivera (PUR) PB: Manuel Carballo (ESP) HB: Justin Spring (USA) |
2006 | Philadelphia, PA |
Jonathan Horton (USA) |
Hisashi Mizutori (JPN) |
David Durante (USA) |
2007 | Jacksonville, FL |
Jonathan Horton (USA) |
Takuya Nakase (JPN) |
Maxim Devyatovskiy (RUS) |
2008 | New York, NY |
Paul Hamm (USA) |
Alexander Artemev (USA) |
Hisashi Mizutori (JPN) |
2009 | Chicago, Il |
Fabian Hambuechen (GER) |
David Sender (USA) |
Joey Hagerty (USA) |
2010 | Worcester, MA |
Maxim Devyatovskiy (RUS) |
Jonathan Horton (USA) |
Chris Brooks (USA) |
2011 | Jacksonville, FL |
Jonathan Horton (USA) |
Mykola Kuksenkov (UKR) |
Jacob Dalton (USA) |
2012 | New York, NY |
Danell Leyva (USA) |
Mykola Kuksenkov (UKR) |
Marcel Nguyen (GER) |
2013 | Worcester, MA |
Jake Dalton (USA) |
Oleg Vernyayev (UKR) |
Marcel Nguyen (GER) |
2014 | Greensboro, NC |
Sam Mikulak (USA) |
Shogo Nonomura (JPN) |
Daniel Purvis (GBR) |
2015 | Arlington, TX |
Oleg Vernyayev (UKR) |
Ryohei Kato (JPN) |
Donnell Whittenburg (USA) |
2016 | Newark, NJ |
Ryohei Kato (JPN) |
Donnell Whittenburg (USA) |
Sun Wei (CHN) |
Sponsorships
In recent years the American Cup has been sponsored by various companies, and the event is typically named for the sponsoring company. Below is a list of past and present sponsors of the event, as well as the official name of the event during the period of sponsorship
Year | Sponsor | Event Name |
1978-1979 | Dial | Dial American Cup |
1982-1996 | McDonald's | McDonald's American Cup |
1997-2004 | VISA | VISA American Cup |
2005 |
T.J. Maxx |
American Cup |
2006-2010 |
Tyson Foods |
Tyson American Cup |
2011-Present | AT&T | AT&T American Cup |
Nastia Liukin Cup
Since 2010, the American Cup weekend has also seen the inclusion of a new event open exclusively to Level 10 J.O. female athletes, the Nastia Liukin Cup, named after Nastia Liukin.
See also
References