Chio, Neff split senior all-around title, Fulcher tops junior field at 2023 Nastia Liukin Cup

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (February 24, 2023) – For the second time in as many years, two gymnasts split top all-around honors in the Nastia Liukin Cup’s senior division. Event veterans Kailin Chio (Las Vegas, Nev./Gymcats Gymnastics) and Avery Neff (South Jordan, Utah/Olympus Gymnastics) each tallied a competition-high 39.075 Friday evening at Louisville’s Freedom Hall, while Addy Fulcher (Gastonia, N.C./Bull City Gymnastics) topped the junior all-around standings with a 37.900.

In a competition that saw the top-seven all-arounders enter the final rotation with less than a quarter of a point separating them, Chio and Neff delivered clutch performances at the finish line to seal their share of the senior title. Madison Ulrich (Fort Mill, S.C./Southeastern Gymnastics Center) rounded out the podium, finishing third with a 38.825. In addition to the all-around co-championship, Chio earned top marks on floor exercise (9.950), the same apparatus that brought her individual gold at the 2021 Junior Pan American Championships. Hannah Scheible (Kimball, Mich./All American Flames) led the way on vault with a 9.900. Chloe LaCoursiere (San Diego, Calif./Coastal Gymnastics, 9.950) and Delaynee Rodriguez (Henderson, Nev./Gymcats Gymnastics, 9.675) set the bar on uneven bars and balance beam, respectively.

In the junior division, Fulcher nosed runners up Olivia Vandevander (Durham, N.C./Team Attraction) and Imani White (Orlando, Fla./Brandy Johnson’s Global Gymnastics), who tied for the second spot (37.875). Fulcher also posted the day’s high score on uneven bars with a 9.700. Maddie Stewart (Chicago, Ill./Legacy Elite) topped the junior vault field with a 9.800, and Kennedy Emerling (Scottsdale, Ariz./Pearland Elite) boasted the division’s best showing on balance beam (9.700). Jada Oliver (Gainesville, Fla./Brandy Johnson’s Global Gymnastics) and Camryn Shepard (San Antonio, Texas/Mavericks Gymnastics) set the standard on floor with matching scores of 9.700.

The Nastia Liukin Cup features the nation’s premier USA Gymnastics Women’s Development Program Level 10 gymnasts and was founded in 2010 by 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin. Friday’s competition was held in conjunction with USA Gymnastics’ ongoing Winter Cup, the first national-level competition for elite gymnasts in 2023.

Winter Cup action will continue Saturday with senior women, including 2022 World team champion and balance beam finalist Skye Blakely, set to lead off at 12:30 p.m. ET. The competition will air on NBC, beginning at 1 p.m. ET. The annual Elite Team Cup, which will showcase many of the top junior men in the country, will follow at 6 p.m. ET and will stream live on USA Gymnastics’ YouTube channel. Junior women and a second men’s session will wrap Winter Cup competition Sunday.