Akash Modi, an alternate to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team and a famous gymnast who had previously run a successful fundraiser on SPONSOR.ME will be defending his parallel bars crown at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Boston, which starts today.
“The last quad helped a lot of us new guys get to the level we’re at because we were always chasing those legends of the sport,” said Modi to USA Gymnastics, referring to the two-time Olympian Samuel Mikulak andthe World Championships Bronze medalist Yul Moldauer, with whom Modi will be competing for a place on the World Team. “Now we are the front runners and we have their steps to follow in.”
Mikulak will be going after a fifth crown – something that only Blaine Wilson managed to do before him by winning 5 crowns in a row between 1996-2000.
“I wouldn’t say it’s something I don’t think about,” he said to USA Gymnastics. “It would definitely be a nice addition, but I don’t think that’s what I’m trying to accomplish through my gymnastics. I’m trying to look into the world scene a little more and if this title comes along in the process, that’s a cherry on top.”
On the women’s side, Olympic Champion Simone Biles as well as Ragan Smith and Riley McCuscer will be competing for the crown.
This is the U.S. National Team qualification event as well as the World Championships Team Selection Event. This autumn’s World Championships in Qatar will be the first global team event since the Olympics.
Watch the Championships on TV:
- Thursday – Mens Prelims Live on NBC Sports Network at 8:00-10:00pm EST
- Friday – Women’s Prelims Live on Olympic Channel 8:00-10pm, delayed on NBC Sports Network 11pm-1am EST
- Saturday – Men’s Finals Live on Olympic Channel 3:30-4:30pm, delayed on NBC 4:30-6:00pm EST
- Sunday – Women’s Finals Live on NBC 8-10pm EST
