GymnastTV.com was at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on September 20th where the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars made their second SoCal appearance.  This tour is like none other I have seen!  With the Walt Disney Company running the show, they easily met the expectations of the ‘tweener generation.  The show opened with Hannah Montana’s Mitchel Musso singing a few of his tunes to get the audience’s screaming primed.

Mitchell Musso of Hannah Montana warms up the crowd.

Along with Musso, two other Disney label acts, KSM and Jordan Pruitt provided live performances to accompany the athletes as they performed about 2 hours of choreographed routines and group numbers.

KSM tests the limits of the sound system at the Honda Center.

Jordan Pruitt with Shayla Worley, Olga Karmansky, and Aliane Baquerot

The arena set up was very rock ‘n roll complete with a stage, podium featuring some of the gymnastics equipment, two sets of rings and two silk ropes suspended from high above that allowed the gymnasts to soar overhead.  The lighting effects throughout the evening, coupled with the music made for a really cool production, a real departure from the basic spotlights of tours past.

The view from front and center during a lighting check.

It’s apparent the athletes are enjoying themselves out on the floor and indeed a well-deserved break from their recent Olympic competitions.  Last night’s show featured the six member bronze medal winning men’s gymnastics team: Sasha Artemev, Raj Bhavsar, Joey Hagerty, Jonathan Horton, Justin Spring, Kevin Tan with supporting teammates Paul Hamm, Morgan Hamm, Blaine Wilson, and Luke Vexler.

The guys finish up their first number. Jonathan Horton (L) and Justin Spring (R) are facing the camera.

Not all of the women’s team are every tour stop but that didn’t keep the fans from screaming their appreciation for multi-medal winners Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, and Chellsie Memmel.  Rounding out the women’s supporting cast were Ashley Postell, Shannon Miller, Tasha Schwikert, Shayla Worley, rhythmic gymnast Olga Karmansky, and gymnast-stunt-silks performer Mam Smith.

The girls rebuff the attention-seeking guys as they perform a playful number. L to R: Chellsie Memmel, Ashley Postell, Shayla Worley, Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, and Tasha Schwikert.

Afterward, we were treated to a meet and greet where the athlete-stars signed autographs with stealth precision!  They had handlers manning the tables to make sure there were no photographers or lengthy chatter to hold up the line.  I managed to sneak in a few shots using the old “Olympic Family” excuse!

Raj, Shannon, Kevin (hidden), Justin, Sasha, and Jonathan.

Blaine and Shawn

Mia (Mihai's daughter) and Nastia with Luke Vexler in the middle.

Stay tuned for our behind the scenes dressing room interviews with the women and chats with the guys from the floor.

Luke Vexler down in front with Raj Bhavsar (rear), Justin Spring and Joey Hagerty (L) and Sasha Artemev to the right (blocking Blaine).

– Kris Bagiu