Live Gymnastics Coverage - online - February 21 (2:30-6 p.m. ET)

Fans can enjoy live coverage of 2009 Tyson American Cup worldwide through USA Gymnastics, NBC Sports, and Universal Sports

For the first time in the history of USA Gymnastics, fans around the world can watch the entire 2009 Tyson American Cup live on Feb. 21, either on television - Universal Sports carries the action from 2:30-4 p.m. ET and NBC Sports from 4-6 p.m. ET - or on the Web on usa-gymnastics.org from 2:30-6 p.m. ET. In addition, usa-gymnastics.org will also have enhanced coverage from the event, including interviews, live results, start lists and photo galleries.
 
"USA Gymnastics is very excited to offer our fans the opportunity to watch the entire event on television or via the Internet," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics.  "This is the first time that we have ever had one of our premier events available live for its entirety on both television and the Web.  This is the result of a tremendous team effort between NBC Sports, Universal Sports and USA Gymnastics."
 
USA Gymnastics recently launched a new microsite for the Tyson American Cup on www.usa-gymnastics.org.  The microsite features a new look, videos, news and event information. The Tyson American Cup site may be accessed through www.usa-gymnastics.org or at www.tysonamericancup.com. On Feb. 21, fans can follow the results online as they watch the action on television or on the Webcast.
 
The prestigious international invitational will be held at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill. 2008 Olympic medalists Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind., and Joseph Hagerty of Rio Rancho, N.M., 2008 U.S. all-around champion David Sender of Arlington Heights, Ill., and 2008 U.S. junior all-around champion Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich., are representing the USA at the 2009 Tyson American Cup.  Other 2008 Olympic medalists expected to compete include Olympic all-around bronze-medalist Benoit Caranobe of France and Olympic horizontal bar bronze-medalist Fabian Hambuechen of Germany. Also scheduled are: men - Japan's Koji Uematsu, Puerto Rico's Luis Rivera Rivera, Romania's Adrian Bucur and Russia's Yury Ryazanov; and women - Canada's Brittany Rogers, France's Youna Dufournet, Germany's Kim Bui, Great Britain's Rebecca Downie, Japan's Koko Tsurumi, Romania's Amelia Racea, Russia's Kristina Goryunova and Venezuela's Jessica Lopez. Ten 2008 Olympians, including five all-around finalists in Beijing, are in the 2009 Tyson American Cup field. 
 
The 2009 Tyson American Cup on Feb. 21 features an all-around format, which means the men compete on all six apparatus and the women on all four.