The annual LA Lights Tournament of Rhythmic Gymnastics Champions, presented by Los Angeles School of Gymnastics, will feature top athletes from the United States and around the world during the three-day tournament scheduled to take place from Jan. 23-25 at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium located at 4117 Overland Ave. in Culver City.
The rhythmic gymnastics tournament will include more than 400 athletes ranging from the aspiring young gymnast starting at the age of 6 to the world and Olympic champions that grace the same floor at the same event just hours later from more than 30 countries.
The Olympic Caliber component of the competition that will be held on Saturday, Jan. 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Sunday Jan. 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. ending with an awards gala.
Headed by three time Olympic coach, judge and Olympic hall of fame inductee Alla Svirsky, Los Angeles School of Gymnastics is the nation’s unparalleled leader of the gymnastics industry. Svirsky has been working with Tanya Berenson, Meet Manager and General Manager, to make sure the 2015 LA Lights Tournament of Champions competition highlights the world’s best gymnasts on their way to global stardom in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil next year.
“We are thrilled to once again to present the 30th Anniversary of the LA Lights Tournament of Rhythmic Gymnastics Champions. The amazing dedication, hard work and raw talent that these young women possess is incredible,” Berenson said. “They are the best in the world, here to compete and showcase their high degree of athletic skill while inspiring young girls from across the globe, regardless of their political climate, economic circumstances, social encumbrances, all of these ladies come together for one thing during the event and it’s to be watched and be inspired by the greatest athletes in the world.”
This year’s tournament includes two-time national champion Jessica Krushen, coming back to rhythmic gymnastics after a six-year hiatus. Krushen won the national novice championship in 2000 and the Canadian title in 2003.
Melitina Staniouta, who ranked 12th in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games and ranks No. 6 on the 2011 World Champion List, will also be showcasing her talents along with other top Olympians from across the globe.
Competitor Viktoria Mazur closed at 16th place all around in the 2014 World Championships and with her teammate Elena Romanova, both were favorites to win in the 2014 LA Lights Tournament but came in second and third place respectively behind the surprise all-around sweep by Belarussia’s golden girl, Melitina Staniouta.
This year is considered anybody’s game to take the top position which includes more than $5,000 in prizes and awards from various sponsors including Michele brand watches, Nars cosmetics, Jack Nadel Corp just to name a few of the event sponsors.
Also heating up the line-up is Ukrainian powerhouse Tamara Yerofeeva who is a former gymnast, Olympian and world champion that will be both performing at the event gala and showcasing her club competitors to make this event a real nail-biting competition.
Another top competitor is Los Angeles School of Gymnastics’ very own member of the United States Junior Olympic Team Isabelle Connor. Connor is climbing the International ranks this year by competing at the international junior level to secure and dominate a position on the global competitive circuit. She is also showcasing her position to take her place on the USA Junior National Team.
The LA Lights Tournament of Champions will be the opening gate for the race to win and establish placement globally at the event, which serves as Connor’s first international competitive appearance where she will be performing as a Level 9 FIG (Federation of International Gymnastics) recognized gymnast. Her performance could catapult her into the international spotlight and give her a chance to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Japan.
“The field has definitely changed this year,” said Berenson, the LASG’s Administrative Director, event manager and former Junior Olympian. “With the new rules and policies, many top contenders retired and several juniors that are very talented moving into the pool of top competition, it’s really anyone’s take this year.”
Members from the following teams/countries are slated to attend the LA Lights Tournament of Rhythmic Gymnastics Champions: USA National Team, Sweden National Team, Ukraine National Team, Russia National Team, Belarus National Team, Canadian National Team, Mexico National Team, Australia National Team, New Zealand, Finland.
For a complete list of the competitors, persons interested can visit http://lalightsmeet.com/event-information/competitors/.
The athlete entries have sold out, resulting in committee members adding an unexpected third day of competition. There are already multiple clubs on the wait-list, but to be added to the wait-list persons interested should contact Tanya Berenson at: Tanya@lagymnastics.com.
LASG, an Olympic-quality training center, is a nonprofit corporation that is considered among the top training facilities in the country. Led by four-time Olympic coach Alla Svirsky, LASG has provided thousands of young athletes with quality gymnastics instruction and has produced several Olympians and Internationally ranked athletes. For more information, please visit http://www.LAGymnastics.com.
LA Lights is one of the largest rhythmic gymnastics events in the nation. Sanctioned by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) and USA Gymnastics Federation, the tournament hosts hundreds of the world’s most diverse and competitive athletes in rhythmic gymnastics, including world champions from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, USA and many more. Visit http://www.LALightsMeet.com for more information.
