People expected her to win and to defend, not just her title as Olympic champion, but also Canada’s national pride.
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“I believed my performance was as good as the one at the World Championships previous year”, said Li.
Page said: “My target was to go out there and do my best and that’s what I did in the final”. “I was really just trying to keep in mind my family, my friends, the journey and how grateful I am to even be here”.
“Fear was absolutely a factor. because my eyes were shaking and if you can’t spot the trampoline you don’t know where you are and I was afraid of getting lost in skills”, MacLennan told reporters about her struggles when she started to make her comeback.
I had no idea my routine was a potential medal, but it was the best I could have done, that’s why I was so happy.
“I held back. I was a lot more confident in it”.
“From my perspective, when you see these young athletes in a venue like the Olympics winning medals, enjoying themselves and demonstrating the skill, talent and strength we have as Canadian athletes, I think it’s an awesome role model for young girls”.
And I’m willing to bet that every time Rosie soars into the air, twisting and somersaulting 20 feet off the ground, her mother’s heart does the same. “It’s a little good luck charm”.
MacLennan didn’t quit, though, because she loves this sport, which is so easy to dismiss. Pragmatism won out, a decision that ended with her atop the medal stand once again.
Page, who finished seventh in qualifying, was in floods of tears upon realising that she had earned Britain their first ever medal in trampolining.
To the untrained eye it appears a terrifying sport, and Page said: “Y ou have to be a bit courageous or insane to go up 10 metres in the air”.
“I have no celebration plan, this was completely unexpected, I can’t wait to see my parents and my coach, I’ll get them a drink, I won’t be drinking, definitely not, I want to remember this”. But I can not say anything.
I asked Jane about the pressure she and her daughter must be feeling. They won bronze four years ago, defeating France by the same score.
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Twice an Olympic alternate, the 28-year-old trampolinist will finally make his Olympic debut in Rio. So to have two of us do it is fantastic.
