LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A well-known Olympian will compete in downtown Louisville this weekend as the city hosts the Kentucky Winter Classic and USA Gymnastics Winter Cup.

About 1,800 athletes from 22 different states are in town for the events. Organizers said about 200 athletes are coming from around the country for the USA Gymnastics Winter Cup.

Three-time Olympic medalist Suni Lee is returning to competition here in downtown Louisville. The reigning Olympic champion will compete on beam and uneven bars. It's her first meet since the 2023 U.S. Championships. 

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas was set to compete this weekend as well, but said in a social media post Thursday that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and was "crushed" she would be unable to attend.

"I was so excited to get back out on the competition floor," Douglas said. 

She was set to compete in three of the four events at the Winter Cup, her first meet since the 2016 Olympics, where she helped the Americans win a team gold.

Douglas won the Olympic all-around champion in 2012, and was part of the gold-winning teams in 2012 and in 2016.

USA Gymnastics' Jill Greer said athletes love spending time in the city.

"So when athletes come here for gymnastics, it's not just athletes. It's athletes and their families and coaches," said Greer. "So the multiplier effect is real. And I can tell you we were already out last night, sampling the local restaurants. What you don't have is athletes sampling the bourbon, fortunately, but the food is great and the accommodations are great and the commute is really easy."

The Winter Cup is the first major tune-up for American gymnasts hoping to make this summer's Olympic team.

Other competitors in Louisville will include former NCAA champion Trinity Thomas and two-time world championship gold medalist Skye Blakely.

"This is the highest level gymnastics that you're going to see in this region this year," Greer said.

The USA Gymnastics Winter Cup starts Friday, Feb. 23, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 25, at the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville.

The USA Gymnastics Winter Cup was held in Louisville at Freedom Hall last year, so this will be the first time it's being held downtown.

"We're happy to be here," said Greer. "It's a really easy commute for our athletes from hotels, so it's a big weekend."

For more information and to purchase tickets for this weekend's events, click here.

Kentucky Gymnastics Academy is helping to host the national competition, which coincides with the Kentucky Winter Classic Gymnastics Invitational at the KICC in downtown Louisville this weekend. The competition kicked off Thursday and will continue through Sunday. 

For more information and a schedule for the Kentucky Winter Classic, click here. For admission information, click here.

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Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press also contributed to this report.