Musicians to join gymnastic stars in performance

By John Benson

In case you haven’t noticed, we’re all living in a Disney Channel world.

The tweener cable network is even expanding its universe into the world of Olympic athletes with the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars, which tumbles, balances and vaults its way to Northeast Ohio for a Thursday show at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

Joining such members of the U.S. Women’s team as Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin, Alicia Sacramone and Chellsie Memmel will be U.S. Men’s Team members Joe Hagerty, Jonathan Horton, Justin Spring, Alexander Artemev and Kevin Tan, as well as former Olympians Shannon Miller and Ohio State alumni Blaine Wilson.

Also present will be teen sensation singers Jordan Pruitt and new band KSM performing their music live while the athletes show off their talents. It’s a sensory overload performance that gold medalist Miller said makes 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars so special.

“I think for all of the athletes doing this tour, it’s a chance to say thanks to the audience and the people who have supported us throughout our careers,” said Miller, calling from Cleveland during a recent press tour stop. “And it’s a chance for them to see our personalities and our choreography the way we like to do it, with the choice of our music and that kind of thing. So it’s just kind of a big celebration.”

As the leader of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics Magnificent Seven, Miller, 31, has earned seven Olympic medals and nine World Championship medals, including two World All-Around gold medals.

Having officially retired from competing after the Atlanta games, the Missouri native has remained active as a gymnastics television analyst and as head of the Shannon Miller Foundation, which is dedicated to fighting childhood obesity.

After participating in numerous Tour of Gymnastics Superstars events over the past decade, Miller took two years off before announcing not only was she returning to this year’s show but it would act as her last outing.

“I haven’t done any gymnastics in a few years, and when the opportunity came up to do this tour, it was definitely a shock to the system to get back into gymnastic shape,” Miller said. “But it’s been fun. I love performing. It’s kind of like riding a bike as long as you can get your body strong enough and flexible, all of the tricks come back.”

While one would think age is a consideration for any athlete, Miller feels otherwise.

“Age is a number,” Miller laughed. “I think it’s less about age and more about how your body handles what you’re doing. For me, I was taught very well by my coach on how to handle gymnastics at different ages. So this is just kind of another one of those learning experiences for me.”

Miller hopes the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars opens the sport to a new generation of gymnastic followers.

Considering the tour is using the Disney Channel influence to cater to a younger audience, it sounds like people better expect plenty of mayhem and fun.

“It is not a competition, so there is no reason to be quiet in the stands,” Miller said. “It’s just crazy. It’s high energy and where you come to scream, yell and stomp your feet. It’s not a quiet show.”

She added, “It’s a little bit of a Hannah Montana concert crossed with gymnastics.”