Minneapolis to host U.S. Olympic gymnastics team trials in 2024
MINNEAPOLIS – The U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials will take place next June 27-30 in Minneapolis.
Inside Target Center Tuesday morning, the announcement of another big sporting event coming to Minnesota was being made.
"This one's too big for me to make," said Gov. Tim Walz, as he introduced Suni Lee.
"I am so excited to announce that Minneapolis has been selected to host the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the sport of gymnastics," Lee said.
This major move was likely made a possibility because Minnesota is the home to Lee, the defending Olympic all-around champion.
"It's an incredible story to kind of wrap it all together in a really nice package," said USA Gymnastics President and CEO Li Li Leung. "Really excited to be able to have Suni coming back and looking forward to the trials next year."
Minnesota is one of the top states in the country when it comes to producing Olympic- and world-level gymnasts, and has been for a while. The last summer games, there were three Minnesotans on the team: Grace McCallum, Shane Wiskus, and Lee, who right now, is easing her way back into elite training.
"It's something we've all wanted, gymnastics coaches, athletes in the state," said Lee's coach, Jess Graba. "To finally see it, and get this one, this is the big one, this is gonna be huge, so it's gonna be fun."
John Roethlisberger is one of the voices of the sport. He graduated from St. Paul Central High School, and competed in three Olympic Games.
"Hopefully you'll get to see a lot of Minnesotans on this floor competing for those spots, hopefully making those spots," said Roethlisberger. "So you gotta see it to believe it. It's amazing."
Starting on June 22, 2024, the Minneapolis Convention Center will host other gymnastics competitions: including rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics, and trampoline and tumbling. Some of those competitions will result in gymnasts being named to the U.S. Olympic Team.
