COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (October 25, 2015) - The premier national tournament in women's boxing begins tomorrow and all of the participants have arrived in Memphis for the 2016 Olympic Trials for Women's Boxing. The 24 competitors are enjoying a little southern hospitality while going through final preparations for the event, which opens competition on Monday at the Memphis Cook Convention Center.

2012 Olympic bronze medalist Marlen Esparza (Houston, Texas), 2015 national champion Mikaela Mayer (Los Angeles, Calif.) and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields (Flint, Mich.) touched down in Memphis on Thursday prior to making a special visit to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on Friday morning. The three athletes got the opportunity to see the world renowned facility and meet a special young woman receiving treatment at the hospital.

On Saturday, the 24 competitors completed their on-site registration before taking a commemorative photo overlooking downtown Memphis on the observation deck at the world's largest Bass Pro Shop. All of the athletes successfully made weight at the general weigh-in on Sunday morning and will await word on their first round opponents, which will be determined at the official draw at 6:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Memphis East.

Preliminary round competition will start at 6 p.m. on Monday with 12 opening round bouts at the Cook Convention Center. Olympic Trials competition will continue at 6 p.m. nightly through Friday and the final round bouts will take place at 7 p.m. at the Cannon Center on Saturday. The event is a double elimination tournament with the winners in each of the three women's Olympic weight divisions earning the right to represent the United States in the international Olympic qualifiers.

The 24 Olympic Trials participants earned their berths in the event in one of three qualifying tournaments beginning with the 2015 USA Boxing National Championships in January. The two finalists from the national championships and top three finishers from qualifying tournaments in June and September all earned spots in the Olympic Trials.