Hobbies
Being in the outdoors, hunting, fishing, golf, training his dog. (Instagram profile, 24 Oct 2023; olympic.org.nz, 02 Jul 2021)
Occupation
Athlete
Education
Commerce - University of Auckland: New Zealand
Spoken languages
English
Club
Icon Trampoline Club: Auckland, NZL
Coach
Angie Dougal [club]; Simon Chatterton [strength and conditioning, personal]; Carolyn Donaldson [personal]
Sporting relatives
His sister Rachel and his brother Callum have also competed in trampoline gymnastics. Rachel represented New Zealand at the world championships in 2011 and 2017. (infonews.co.nz, 20 Oct 2008; SportsDeskOnline, 02 Nov 2021)
Other sports
He has also competed in artistic gymnastics at international level. (olympic.org.nz, 01 Jun 2014)
Injuries
He had reconstructive knee surgery in March 2018 following an injury during training. (stuff.co.nz, 10 Sep 2018)
He was troubled by knee and groin injuries in 2017. (newshub.co.nz, 09 Oct 2017)
Start sporting career
He took up trampolining at age five in Te Anau, New Zealand. He began competing in 2005.
Reason for taking up the sport
His older brother and sister were already involved in the sport.
Milestones
He became the first trampoline gymnast representing New Zealand to win an individual trampoline title at the world championships when he claimed gold at the 2022 edition of the tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria. (SportsDeskOnline, 23 Nov 2022; gymnastics.sport, 21 Nov 2022)
His bronze medal in the men's individual trampoline event at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo was New Zealand's first medal in any gymnastics discipline at the Olympic Games. (SportsDeskOnline, 23 Nov 2022; stuff.co.nz, 13 Jul 2022)
He became the first trampoline gymnast to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games when he competed at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (SportsDeskOnline, 13 Aug 2016; sports.vice.com, 13 Jul 2016)
Ambitions
To win a gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (gymnastics.sport, 24 May 2022; hpsnz.org.nz, 01 Aug 2023)
Most influential person in career
His parents. (Instagram profile, 07 Aug 2021)
Philosophy / Motto
"I want to win. You don't do the sport not to win." (auckland.ac.nz, 16 Jul 2020)
Awards
In 2023 he received a National Service Award from Gymnastics New Zealand for his contribution to the sport. (gymnasticsnz.com, 15 Jun 2023)
He was named the 2014 College Sport Auckland Young Sportsperson of the Year. (richardspranger.com, 22 Nov 2014)
Additional information
SECOND NATURE
He says the sensation of trampolining is both strange and organic. "It's the weirdest feeling. When I'm on a trampoline I feel like I have total control. I'm 30 feet in the air, putting my body through these crazy spins and twists, only to land and ask myself, 'How did I just do that?!' But when I'm on the tramp, everything is second nature. I can close my eyes and just feel whatever it is I need to do." (afterthewhistle.co.nz, 01 Apr 2021)
Last update : 2024-07-22
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