American Cup 2017: Gymnastics Dates, Schedule, Live Stream and Preview

Saturday marks the commencement of the 42nd annual American Cup, and it will feature 18 of the world's best gymnasts competing for the men's and women's all-around titles.

On the men's side, multiple Olympic medalists will be in action, including Ukraine's Oleg Verniaiev and reigning American Cup champion Ryohei Kato of Japan.

Although none of the "Final Five" team members from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are set to compete on the women's side, Olympic alternate Ragan Smith will have an opportunity to break through.

Ahead of the American Cup, here is everything you need to know about when and how to watch the event, as well as further analysis regarding the top gymnasts to keep an eye on.

Where: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey

When: Saturday, March 4 at 11:30 a.m. ET

Watch/Live Stream: NBC and NBC Sports Live Extra

Schedule

Date	Time (ET)	Event	Watch
Saturday, March 4	11:30 a.m.	American Cup	NBC Sports Live Extra (Live Stream)
Saturday, March 4	1 p.m.	American Cup	NBC

Gymnasts to Watch

Oleg Verniaiev

Fresh off a career-defining performance at the 2016 Summer Games, Verniaiev will look to return to the top of the podium at the American Cup after previously winning the title in 2015.

Verniaiev took Rio by storm as he won gold in the parallel bars and narrowly missed out on pulling off a huge upset in the all-around.

Japan's Kohei Uchimura barely held off Verniaiev to take gold, but the Ukrainian won silver in impressive fashion.

With top American Sam Mikulak out due to an Achilles injury, Verniaiev enters the American Cup as a heavy favorite.

The 23-year-old is already a 25-time medalist in major competitions, and all signs point to his second American Cup championship in three years provided he avoid mistakes like he did in the Olympics.

Ragan Smith

It can be argued that the women's competition at the 2017 American Cup is lacking in terms of star power with the absence of Simone Biles, Gabrielle Douglas, Aly Raisman and others, but a new star could potentially be born in the form of Smith.

The 16-year-old Georgia native made her senior gymnastics debut in 2016 and just four months later was named an alternate on the 2016 Olympic team.

The American Cup has been a showcase for many of the greatest United States women's Olympians of all time, and Smith recognizes how important it is, according to Nick McCarvel of AmericanCup.com: "For me to be competing at the AT&T American Cup, that means the world really. I feel like that's where Olympic dreams come true almost. Pretty much everyone who has won the American Cup has made an Olympic team, so it means so much to me."

Along with Biles and Douglas, the likes of Mary Lou Retton, Kerri Strug, Carly Patterson, Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson and Jordyn Wieber are former American Cup champions as well.

Since it is unclear if any members of the "Final Five" intend to compete at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Smith could possibly put herself in position to be the anchor of that team.

Although there is plenty of work to be done before the Tokyo Games, an American Cup title would go a long way toward establishing Smith as one of the world's preeminent gymnasts.

Ryohei Kato

If anyone is going to halt Verniaiev's recent run of success, Kato is the top candidate to do so.

The Japanese star won the 2016 American Cup last year and finished second to Verniaiev in the event in 2015, so 2017 represents a de facto rubber match between them.

Kato didn't enjoy the same type of individual success as Verniaiev at the 2016 Olympics, but he did win gold as part of the team competition after winning silver with Japan at the 2012 Summer Games.

The 23-year-old did win silver in the all-around at the world championships in 2013, however, which suggests he will be a major threat Saturday.

Although the absence of Mikulak will make it difficult for the American men to be competitive, the battle between Verniaiev and Kato should create a compelling atmosphere.