At Slush Puppie Place in Kingston, a new chapter in artistic gymnastics is beginning with the launch of Battle Royale. Ben Astorga, the visionary CEO behind this initiative, aims to revitalize the sport by introducing a fast-paced, professional-style league. The league’s debut season will feature three major events, each offering $25,000 in total prize money, creating a platform for athletes to showcase their talents year-round. The events are scheduled for November 15, January 24, 2027, and May 23, with the finale taking place at Centre Slush Puppie in Gatineau. Astorga, who also developed the multi-purpose artistic gymnastics app called Gym Art, hopes this new format will attract wider audiences and provide gymnasts with regular opportunities to compete and earn.
Sam Zakutney on the League
Sam Zakutney, a Canadian men’s gymnast, trained alongside Ben Astorga at Ottawa Gymnastics Centre during their youth. As a current team member at Laval Excellence, he sees great potential in the new league. Though he initially had doubts about the idea, Zakutney was won over by Astorga’s passion and the thoroughness of his planning. He believes the league could significantly boost opportunities for gymnasts across the country. Zakutney described the early stages as skeptical, saying he wouldn’t say Astorga was a workaholic, but he is a very passionate guy who, once his mind is hooked on an idea, will go all-in. He was impressed with the mock competition staged in Laval and felt confident that the league is in capable hands.
Zakutney, who recently tied the knot on July 11 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, expressed a wish that such a league had existed earlier in his career. He plans to retire after the 2028 season, and the launch of Battle Royale aligns with his long-held belief that there is a need for more visibility in the sport. The league directly tackles the issue of artistic gymnastics losing momentum during the three years between Olympic cycles. Zakutney noted that the sport is most popular during the Summer Olympics but lacks any consistent coverage afterward. Astorga, in his view, recognized this recurring problem and aimed to make the sport more modern, interesting, and accessible to a broader audience.
Structure and Rules of Battle Royale
Battle Royale introduces a groundbreaking scoring system that differs from traditional methods. Instead of relying solely on judges’ numerical scores, gymnasts are ranked by percentile, allowing for more intuitive and exciting competition. The top-performing athlete in each apparatus receives 100 points, while others earn points based on their performance relative to others. This innovative system simplifies what many find confusing about traditional scoring and adds a new layer of excitement for spectators. Astorga has designed the competition to be dynamic, fast-paced, and engaging, with the inclusion of upbeat music and energetic elements to replace the quiet, awkward silence often associated with gymnastics events.
Each event is structured into three phases. The day begins with a morning qualification round, followed by an afternoon session with the remaining teams. The top 12 teams then advance to the semifinals held in the evening, where four will earn a spot in the finals. The winning team in the finals will take home $15,000, the second-place team will earn $7,500, and the third-place team will receive $2,500. This format ensures a fast-paced and engaging event for both athletes and spectators. The structure allows for a clear progression from qualification to the final, with the best teams rising through each round.
Participants must pay an entry fee of $250 to compete, while coaches are required to pay $150 to support the event’s operations. Battle Royale also includes a unique reward system: merchandise will be given to the team chosen by the crowd as their favorite, as well as to teams that finish in positions four through eight. This adds a layer of community involvement and fan engagement, making the events more interactive and accessible to the public. The inclusion of crowd favorites ensures that even teams outside the top three receive recognition and prizes, enhancing the overall experience.
To maintain the momentum and excitement of the event, Battle Royale employs two separate panels of judges. One panel evaluates a gymnast’s performance while the next athlete immediately begins their routine, judged by the second panel. This method significantly reduces downtime and enhances the flow of competition. Additionally, the inclusion of upbeat music and interactive elements breaks the usual quiet of gymnastics events, creating a lively and entertaining atmosphere for all attendees. The events will feature the four traditional apparatuses for women – floor, vault, uneven bars, and balance beam – and for men, floor, vault, rings, and horizontal bar. This fast-paced format with real-time app integration for spectators ensures that the audience can stay engaged throughout the competition.