It’s official: USA Gymnastics is coming to Minnesota next summer.
Minnesota Sports and Events (MNSE) announced Tuesday that the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials will be held in Minneapolis. It will be the first time the city has hosted the event.
The Minneapolis Convention Center will host the USA Gymnastics Championships beginning June 22, 2024. The Olympic Trials will then be held at the Target Center from June 27-30, 2024. The USAG National Congress and Trade Show and USA Gymnastics’ All National Championships and GymFest are also held in Minneapolis.
At the conclusion of the trials, USA Gymnastics will announce the 2024 Olympic team for the Paris Olympic Games.
“There is no greater stage for gymnastics in this country than the Olympic Trials,” said USA Gymnastics President and CEO Lee Lee Ling. “With world-class venues in a bustling urban environment and the ability to successfully host large-scale events, Minneapolis is an ideal location. We look forward to hosting fans from across the country for nine days of unforgettable gymnastics competition and celebration.
“Minnesota athletes are making sports history nationally and internationally. We are proud to continue that momentum by showcasing our talent and hosting the 2024 US Olympic Gymnastics Trials,” added Gov. Tim Walz. She’s excited for you to come and experience all that makes our state a great place to live, work and play.”
Minnesotans have played a major role in USA Gymnastics’ success in recent years, with St. Paul native Sunisa Lee winning the 2020 Olympic all-around gold medal as well as team silver and uneven bars at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Isanti native Grace McCall was also on that team and won a silver team medal, and Spring Park’s Shane Wiscus was an NCAA champion at the University of Minnesota from 2018-21.
Past Minnesota Olympians include gymnasts John Roethlisberger, Marie Roethlisberger and their father, Fred Roethlisberger.
Other Minnesota hopefuls for 2024 include rhythmic gymnast Erica Foster of Chanhassen and 2022 US runner-up in trampoline, St. Paul-born Ilya Vogel.
“I am very happy and proud that Minneapolis has been chosen to host the Olympic Trials,” Lee said in a statement. “Watching the Olympians that have come before me was so inspiring as a kid, and knowing that Minnesota’s young athletes will have the opportunity to watch and be inspired by the best gymnasts in America is so inspiring. I can’t wait for the Olympic Trials to be in my backyard.”
The Twin Cities metro area has hosted several other major sporting events over the years, including Super Bowl 52 in 2018, the NCAA Men’s Final Four in 2019 and the Women’s Final Four in 2022, the Summer X Games and the Ryder Cup. The Olympic trials for curling and the Paralympic trials for swimming and track and field are also held in Minnesota.
In addition to the 2024 gymnastics trials, the area is slated to host the 2024 Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, the 2024 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four, the 2025 NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four and the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.
“We are thrilled that USA Gymnastics has chosen Minnesota to host the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, USA Gymnastics Championships, GymFest and the National Congress and Trade Show,” said MNSE President and CEO Wendy Blackshaw. It makes it a rare opportunity to celebrate and grow our communities.”
MNSE expects around 6,000 participants and tens of thousands of fans to come to the area for the tryouts next year.
During that time, Minneapolis will take on the “Gymnastics City USA 2024” moniker.
Tickets for all sessions for tryouts are now on sale online.
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