Olympic medallists to contest World Cup

The competitors for the eagerly anticipated Glasgow World Cup of gymnastics have been confirmed with six Olympic medals and numerous World and European titles shared between the star-studded line-up.

Britain’s Olympic team bronze medal winner Kristian Thomas leads the home contingent along with Team GB’s youngest member and senior British champion Rebecca Tunney, and 2010 European silver medallist Niamh Rippin.

The Brits will face a tough test against gymnastics superstars from across the globe. On the men’s side the Olympic all-around silver medallist (GER) and bronze medallist Danell Lyeva (USA) will be expected to be in the mix for the title, whilst the women’s competition sees Olympic bronze medal winner Larisa Iordahce (ROU) and World and European champion (ITA) in action.

Glasgow World Cup Gymnastics is the first major gymnastics event to be staged in Great Britain since the London 2012 and will take place at Glasgow's new £113million Emirates Arena.

Rebecca Tunney, who turned 16 only last week said: “I’m really excited to back competing in front of a home crowd in Glasgow and against some amazing gymnasts. This year, my first as a senior has been incredible. Becoming British champion, making the Olympic team and feeling the massive support from the British public has been like a dream and to compete back at home is the perfect way to end my year.”

Kristian Thomas is equally excited about the World Cup: “It’s a great honour and privilege for me to be invited to compete at the Glasgow World Cup, up against the top all-around gymnasts in the world. It is a great opportunity to put myself up against the best and of course perform once again in front of an amazing home crowd. At the Olympics the crowd really was like having an extra team member, encouraging us when things didn’t go to plan and cheering us on when things went well so I’m definitely looking forward to having that kind of support again in Glasgow.”

Chair of Glasgow Life and the Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games, Councillor Archie Graham, said: "The competitor list for this year's Glasgow World Cup Gymnastics is exceptional with several of the world's top gymnasts set to go for gold at the stunning Emirates Arena.

"This will be the first world-class gymnastics event to be held at the arena and demand for tickets has been exceptionally high. It is already shaping up to be one of the biggest and best gymnastics events ever held in Glasgow. We can't wait for the action to get underway."

The Glasgow World Cup pits some of the best all-around male and female gymnasts in the world against each other in an action packed one-day event.

World Cup tickets are available online with prices starting at just £6 for concessions/child tickets (under 16) and £16 for adults. Family packages (for 2 adults and 3 children) are available at £40, and a group discount is available for block bookings: for every 5 child tickets purchased receive 1 free adult ticket. To book tickets, please click here.

Full line ups

Men Sergio Sasaki Junior (BRA) – Finished 10th in the all-around competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Fabian Gonzalez (ESP) - Finished 9th in the all-around competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Kristian Thomas (GBR) – 2012 Olympic team bronze medal winner with Team GB and European team champion. Marcel Nguyen (GER) – Double 2012 Olympic silver medal winner in the all-around and parallel bars, 2007 World Championship bronze medallist and six time European Championships medallist. Kazuhito Tanaka (JPN) – Team silver at the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2011 World Championships. Yusuke Saito (JPN) - 10th at the 2012 Japanese national championships Oleg Verniaiev (UKR) – 2012 European Championships silver on parallel bars. 11th in the all-around and 4th in the team event at 2012 Olympic Games. Danell Leyva (USA) – 2012 Olympic all-around bronze medallist. 2011 parallel bars World champion and team bronze medallist.

Women Kaitlyn Hofland (CAN) - 2012 Canadian National team member, one of Canada’s most promising stars

Rebecca Tunney (GBR)-Team GB’s youngest member, 13th all-around at the 2012 Olympics and 2012 senior British all-around champion Niamh Rippin (GBR) - 2012 British and champion, 2010 European team silver medallist (GER) - 2012 Olympic bars finalist and 2011 European all-around silver medallist Vanessa Ferrari (ITA) - 8th at the 2012 Olympic all-around competition, the 2006 all-around World Champion, 2007 all-around European champion and 2012 European Championships team bronze Wakana Inque (JPN) - 10th at the 2012 Japanese national championships (ROU) - 2012 Olympic team bronze medallist, 2012 European floor and team champion Elizabeth Price (USA) - 2012 US Olympic team reserve, 5th all-around at the 2012 US Championships

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