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Yoan Ivanov, coach Anthony Wise, David Ivanov, and Max Whitlock

This season’s world challenge cup series begins tomorrow in Varna, Bulgaria, and while this series doesn’t involve any world championships qualification the way the world cup does, we’ll still see many top athletes on the roster, especially as the season gets closer to the end.

Bulgaria will have an especially stacked field at home, including pommel horse standout David Ivanov. It’ll also be exciting to see world cup pommel horse and rings champions Zeinolla Idrissov of Kazakhstan and Artur Avetisyan of Armenia in the mix here, while Great Britain’s Max Whitlock makes his return to international competition for the first time since the Paris Olympics.

On the WAG side, I’m mostly looking forward to seeing Jennifer Williams of Sweden back on the elite scene following her first NCAA season at Cal, Croatia has a standout field that includes well-known specialists on each apparatus, and I always love when we’re treated to Rachel Yeoh Li Wen of Malaysia on bars and Floor Slooff of the Netherlands on floor.

The competition will begin with qualifications held from May 7–8, while finals will be held over the weekend from May 9–10. A full list of athletes expected to compete is below.

Article by Lauren Hopkins