The U.S. acrobatic and rhythmic programs are sending nearly 50 athletes to represent the country at various competitions across Belgium, Bulgaria and France during the week.
Puurs World Cup
More than 25 acrobatic athletes are in action at the 2023 Puurs World Cup and Flanders International Acro Cup (FIAC) April 5-9 in Antwerp, Belgium. In World Cup competition, reigning World all-around men's pair champions Angel Felix and Braiden McDougall look to add to their gold medal from the recent Maia World Cup. They will be joined by 2022 U.S. all-around women's pair champions Mo Arthur and Ariana Katsov and 2022 U.S. all-around women's group champions Mariam Tutberidze, Grace Vonder Haar and Kayla Vonder Haar, who also medaled in Maia.
Thursday, April 6 kicks off two days of World Cup qualifications beginning at 8 a.m. ET, followed by finals on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET. The top eight units in each division, only two units per country, will advance to their respective finals.
Flanders International Acro Cup (FIAC)
The Flanders International Acro Cup will see several new faces, including 12-18 mixed pair Rylee Cummins and George Yeramishyn, and two 12-18 women's groups: Juli Williams, Emma Rosenhaft and Gabby Zsakany; and Emilia Roder, Dakota Cox and Lea Williams. Returning is Ethan Chang, now part of a 13-19 men's pair with partner David Vonder Haar, who will make his international debut. Cate Lacy and Cecelia Shadrick will also return as a 13-19 women's group with Abigail Novoseletskiy after landing eighth all-around in the 11-16 division in 2019, and claiming 12-18 women's group all-around silver at the 2022 MIAC.
After winning 12-18 mixed pair bronze at the MIAC, Hailee Wong and Andrew Castro look to land on the podium again. 2022 MIAC 12-18 women's pair all-around silver medalists Molly Fox and Sydney Dorais, and the 13-19 women's pair of Sydney Padios and Willow Noble also will compete.
FIAC competition will start with senior and 13-19 women's group qualifications on Wednesday, April 5 at 1 p.m. ET. Thursday and Friday's qualifications are slated for 2:45 a.m. ET and 3 a.m. ET, respectively, with finals set for Saturday.
Competition will continue in the Bulgarian hotbed for rhythmic gymnastics April 7-9 with the 2023 Sofia Cup International Tournament. The event will feature a 20-athlete unit of both Junior and Senior National Team members.
In individual competition, Deanna Georgieva, Yana Golovan, Sarah Mariotti, Kalina Trayanov and Sophia Volkov will represent the seniors. On the junior level, 2022 Rhythmic Challenge all-around champion Rin Keys and 2022 Aphrodite Cup all-around champion (2010 division) Natalia de la Rosa will be joined by Megan Chu, Ksenia Potoski and 2023 Gymnastik International Tournament junior team silver medalist Erika Rusak.
Group competition will see the junior group from North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center of Goda Balsys, Annabella Hantov, Kristina Lee, Greta Pavilonyte and Alaini Spata.
The event kicks off Friday, April 7 at 1:30 a.m. ET with individual hoop and ball, and group five ropes qualifications. Individual club and ribbons and group five balls qualifications lead off Saturday's schedule beginning at 12:30 a.m. ET, with all-around champions to also be determined. Sunday, April 9 will hold all finals starting at 3 a.m. ET.
Thiais International Grand Prix
Senior Alexandria Kautzman will head solo to France to compete in the Thiais International Grand Prix April 8-9. The two-day event begins Saturday, April 8 with individual qualifications at 8 a.m. ET followed by all-around awards at 12:30 p.m. ET. Finals are set for Sunday at 7:15 a.m. ET.
All U.S. athletes competing this weekend are listed alphabetically by discipline below.
Acrobatic Gymnastics
Mo Arthur - Rolla, Mo./Mid America Acro Tumbling
Andrew Castro - Riverside, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy
Ethan Chang - Columbia, Md./Emilia's Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
Dakota Cox - Gambrills, Md./Emilia's Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
Rylee Cummins - Moreno Valley, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy
Sydney Dorais - San Diego, Calif./So Cal TTC
Angel Felix - Moreno Valley, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy
Molly Fox - San Diego, Calif./So Cal TTC
Ariana Katsov - Owensville, Mo./Mid America Acro Tumbling
Cate Lacy - Columbia, Md./Emilia's Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
Braiden McDougall - Riverside, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy
Willow Noble - Moreno Valley, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy
Abigail Novoseletskiy - Baltimore, Md./Emilia's Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
Sydney Padios - Moreno Valley, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy
Emilia Roder - Ellicott City, Md./Emilia's Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
Emma Rosenhaft - Clarksburg, Md./Emilia's Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
Cecelia Shadrick - Ellicott City, Md./Emilia's Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
Mariam Tutberidze - Owings Mills, Md./Emilia's Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
Grace Vonder Haar - Laurel, Md./Emilia's Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
Kayla Vonder Haar - Laurel, Md./Emilia's Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
David Vonder Haar - Laurel, Md./Emilia's Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
Juli Williams - Columbia, Md./Emilia's Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
Lea Williams - Columbia, Md./Emilia's Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
Hailee Wong - Colton, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy
George Yeramishyn - Riverside, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy
Gabby Zsakany - Odenton, Md./Emilia's Acro Gymnastics and Cheer
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Goda Balsys - Northbrook, Ill.
Maria Bolkhovitinova - Northfield, Ill.
Megan Chu - San Diego, Calif./Pacific Stars Rhythmic Academy
Izzy Connor - Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
Deanna Georgieva - Centennial, Colo./Zara Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy
Yana Golovan - Las Vegas, Nev./Nevada Rhythmic Academy
Annabella Hantov - Northfield, Ill.
Sasha Ilyina - Lake Zurich, Ill.
Isabella Ivanova - Kirkland, Wash./ North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center
Alexandria Kautzman - Simi Valley, Calif./California Rhythms
Rin Keys - Porter Ranch, Calif./Burlo Gymnastics
Nicole Khoma - Northbrook, Ill./ North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center
Kristina Lee - Woodridge, Ill.
Sarah Mariotti - San Diego, Calif./Pacific Stars Rhythmic Academy
Isabelle Novoseletsky - Highland Park, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center
Greta Pavilonyte - Buffalo Grove, Ill.
Gergana Petkova - Barrington, Ill.
Ksenia Pototski - Brooklyn, N.Y./Isadora by Match Point
Natalia de la Rosa - Woodland Hills, Calif./Burlo Gymnastics
Erika Rusak - Auburn, Wash./Evergreen Rhythmics
Katrine Sakhnov - Glencoe, Ill.
Karolina Saverino - Elk Grove Village, Ill.
Alaini Spata - Glen Ellyn, Ill.
Hana Starkman - Deerfield, Ill.
Kalina Trayanov - Deerfield, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center
Sophia Volkov - Glenview, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center
Emily Wilson - Brooklyn, N.Y.