In a hugely significant year, with the first World Championships in the 2009-2012 Olympic cycle taking place in The 02 Arena London in October, the Glasgow Grand Prix and World Cup event on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 May 2009 will be of vital importance in their build-up for many recognised gymnastics high-flyers and new candidates for world glory.

UPDATE - 14/05/09..Gymnasts begin to arrive..UKR, Kaeslin and Izbasa withdraw..Jana Sikulova joins!

Glasgow will give them all the opportunity to earn a top position and Prize money and to enhance their possible ranking before London 2009.

The British line-up is without doubt the strongest ever, with five 2008 Olympians competing.

It includes 2008 Olympic Bronze medallist on Pommels Louis Smith; 2006 World and European Champion on A. Bars and 2009 double European Champion (A. Bars and Floor) Beth Tweddle; 2008 European Junior Champion Daniel Keatings who recently won the first European Senior All-around medal, for Great Britain (Silver in Milan ITA); current British Champion Becky Downie, 12th All-around in Beijing, along with her teammate in China, Hannah Whelan.

Also competing will be the current British Men’s Champion Kristian Thomas and Senior GB member Luke Folwell with the 2008 European Junior Team Champions Daniel Purvis and Theo Seager.

In the Women's field we have the Vault Silver medalist Yulia Berger RUS along with the other two Russians who swept the floor at the previous World Cup tournament in Maribor SLO, Ekaterina Kurbatova (Bars) and Anna Mysdrikova (Vault) also deserve special attention.

Last year’s winner on A. Bars and Beam in Glasgow Sanne Wevers NED will be back with her experienced team mate Suzanne Harmes, 2005 World Bronze medallist on Floor.  Popular Brazilian Ana Claudia Silva (replaces Danielle Hypolito), Columbian “Dynamo” Natasha Sanchez, medal-winning Finn Annika Urvikko and the young Romanian Dana Chelaru are also expected to take the spotlight. 

A welcome late entry to the field is Jana Sikulova CZE. 

Update, 11/05/09:  Spain joins the Glasgow List 

The Organising Committee of the 2009 Glasgow Grand Prix and World Cup event has been informed by the FIG office on Monday 11 May that, in spite of its late entry and with the specific agreement of the FIG President, Spain will be represented in Glasgow by Ana Maria Izurieta and Naomi Ruiz.

Sixteen-year-old Izurieta was one of the biggest surprises at the recent European Championships in Milan ITA (April), where she was at a hair distance from the rostrum twice- in the All-around and on Floor (two fourth places; on Floor shared with Romania Tamirjan).

Eighteen-year-old Naomi Ruiz took part in Glasgow in 2008 and won Bronze medal on Floor. She competed also in the World Cup Final in Madrid last December (5th place on Floor) and took 22nd position in the All-around at the last European Championships in Milan.

Both gymnasts are coached by the legendary Spanish “Guru” Jesus Carballo in Madrid (assisted by Eva Rueda and Lucia Guisado) and both will compete on A. Bars, Beam and Floor in the Qualification round on Friday, 15th May, in the Kelvin Hall.

With this, the number of the countries which will be represented in the Women’s competition in Glasgow increases to 12, against 21 on the Men’s side.

The Men’s Entry List looks hugely impressive! 

Floor: Anton Golotsutskov RUS Olympic Bronze medallist Floor and Vault; Twice World Champion on Floor (2005/2007) and three times World Cup winner (2004/2006/2008) Diego Hypolito BRA, fresh from his victory in Maribor; Alexander Shatilov ISR Olympic and World Finalist; Jeffrey Wammes NED; Wajdi Bouallegue TUN; Tomislav Markovic CRO.

Pommels: Last year’s winner in Glasgow and four time European Champion Krisztian Berky HUN – versus the formidable British Duo Louis Smith and Daniel Keatings; The 2008 European Bronze medallist Robert Seligman CRO; Many times World Cup medallist Saso Bertoncelj SLO and the new Master on Pommel for Russia Andrey Perevozhnikov;

Rings: The mighty Dutch Yuri Van Gelder NED, 2005 World and 2008/2009 European Champion faces Konstantin Pluzhnikov RUS, winner in the Maribor and Bronze medallist in Glasgow last year. 

Vault: 2007 World Bronze medallist Ri Se Gwang PRK, along with Wammes, Hypolito and Golotsutskov and the new pretenders Tomi Tooha FIN and Adam Kierzkovski POL, another top quality competition is expected.
       
The last two Men’s events, P. Bars and High Bar are packed with experienced stars: The evergreen Slovenians Mitja Petkovsek, 2005 and 2007 World Champion on P. Bars and Aljaz Pegan, 2005 Champion on High Bar.  Last year their younger team mate Alen Dimic won the High Bar in Glasgow and is returning in May. Strongest challenge is to come from the spectacular new European Champion on High Bar Epke Zonderland NED, Samuel Piasecky SLO, Silver on P.Bars in 2008; Moziah Rodriguez BRA, last year’s runner-up on High Bar, Roman Kulesza POL.
   
Competition Venue:      Kelvin Hall International Arena
                                  1445 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AW
                                  Tel: ++44 1 41 337 18 06

BBC TV coverage:          Live on the Red Button from 1300-1800 on Saturday, 16th
                                   May and Highlights on Sunday, 17th May from 1400-1530 on
                                   BBC Two.

Time Table:                   Friday, 15 May, 2009:       13:00- 18.30 Qualifications
                                   Saturday, 16 May, 2009:     13:30- 18.15 Finals

Media Accreditation:      Please, fill in the form on the BG Website: Click here.

Website:                      http://www2.seeglasgow.com/gymnastics/index.html

For more information: Please, contact Vera Atkinson, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it     Mob: 07739521286 or Tim Peake, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it