On Saturday, November 7, three current elites and future collegiate gymnasts will compete at the FIG Friendship and Solidarity competition in Tokyo, Japan. Florida commits Shilese Jones and Sophia Butler, as well as eMjae Frazier, who is still uncommitted, will represent the USA alongside their male counterparts: Oklahoma alumnus Yul Moldauer, Michigan sophomore Paul Juda and Minnesota senior Shane Wiskus.
According to a recent article, Frazier and Jones are expected to compete on vault, bars and beam, while Butler will compete on vault, beam and floor.
They will be joined by some international stars, including two-time Olympic all around champion Kohei Uchimura of Japan, reigning world all around champion Nikita Nagornyy and world and Olympic medalist Angelina Melnikova, both representing the Russian Federation. After testing positive to COVID-19 last week, Uchimura took the test three more times and was cleared to compete after testing negative each time.
A total of 30 athletes will take part in the competition and will be divided into two teams, Team Solidarity (red) and Team Friendship (blue). Butler belongs to the former while Frazier and Jones to the latter. The top three WAG and MAG scores on each apparatus will count toward the final team score.
Athletes will undergo daily COVID-19 tests and their movements will be restricted to the competition venue, training hall and hotel.
NBC Sports and the FIG YouTube Channel will broadcast the competition, starting at 11 p.m. EST. The event will also be broadcast on NBCSN in the U.S. on tape delay Sunday, November 8 at 5 p.m. EST.
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Article by Talitha Ilacqua
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