This Wednesday, more than 500 female gymnasts representing 40 clubs from three countries will take part in the 4th Annual Atlantis Crown Invitational, set to be held at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island.
The Bahamas will have representation from a total of 80 athletes from four clubs, Nassau 'Nastics, Bahamas Star Gymnastics, Grand Bahama Gymnastics and the BDT Flyers. According to reports, they are all ready to take part in the three-day event that takes place inside the Imperial Ballroom of Atlantis. Other countries competing are Panama and the United States of America (USA).
The invitational is designed to feature female gymnasts ages 6-18 that are levels 1 thru 10.
Also, for the first time, this year's event will have an AC Collegiate Challenge featuring West Virginia University.
"It is with great pleasure we welcome the West Virginia women's college gymnastics team to our first annual AC Collegiate Challenge," said meet director, Al Scharns. "This is the first year we have offered NCAA level competition and we look forward to showcasing the AC Collegiate Challenge again in 2015. What an opportunity to see NCAA women's college gymnastics at its best."
Scharns and his wife Cindy Scharns, who will serve as the meet coordinator, will be presenting the Gymnastics Federation of The Bahamas with a $1,000 donation to be used to grow the sport through continuing education for its coaches and athletes.
"We are excited to be returning to what we consider our second home -- to host the fourth annual Atlantis Crown event," Al Scharns said. "This year's event has continued to grow and will boost over 500 athletes representing 40 gymnastics clubs and three countries. In addition, we will feature over 80 Bahamian athletes competing from Level 1 through Level 9."
Al and Cindy Scharns are the owners of Branch Gymnastics & Kids Sports USA in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, Michigan, where three Bahamian athletes (Simone Hall, Kianna Dean and Toneka Johnson) spent time preparing for the 2014 Pan American Senior Championships, which took place in August at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. They competed, and it was the first time The Bahamas was represented at those championships.
This year, the invitational saw an increase in the number of gymnasts participating, from 414 to 525. Next year, they expect that number to be even higher with the addition of a men's invitational to the event.
"This year we have the pleasure of Ron Galimore, COO of USA Gymnastics and Sam Mikulak, 2012 U.S. Men's Olympic team member, joining us," Scharns said. "Sam will honor us as the keynote speaker for the opening ceremony and will announce the addition of the Sam Mikulak Challenge (Men's Invitational) to the 2015 Atlantis Crown Invitational."
Some of the other special guests expected to be in attendance are Loree Galimore, Director of Club Services USA Gymnastics, and Svetlana Boginskaya, a three-time Olympian with five Olympic medals.

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