The 10 Greatest Olympic Trampolinists of All-Time
The Top 10 Greatest Olympic Trampolinists Ever
Trampolining first bounded onto the world stage at the 2000 Sydney Olympics - and it’s seen some incredible athletes throughout the years.
Read on for a list of the top 10 greatest Olympic trampolinists of all-time!
Olympic trampolinist Bryony Page
Although trampolining is not a new sport, 2000 was the first time it was truly mainstream, and audiences were wowed by its highly challenging aerial acrobatics.
Fast forward more than two decades, and there are now several men and women who have an impressive collection of medals from competing in the Olympics.
But who are these professional acrobats? Find out in The Sporting Blog’s round-up of the 10 greatest Olympic trampolinists of all-time.
1. Dong Dong
He won gold in individual trampoline at the 2012 London Olympics
He won bronze at the 2008 Beijing and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics
He took silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021 (postponed due to Covid)
Hailing from China, Dong Dong has been a dominant force in men's trampoline gymnastics for four consecutive Olympic Games - and he is the greatest Olympic trampolinist of all-time.
He joined the Chinese national team in 2005 and made his international debut in 2006.
Dong's impeccable execution and innovative routines have set new standards in the sport, earning him a spot among the greatest and most inspirational trampolinists.
2. Rosannagh (Rosie) MacLennan
She won back-to-back gold medals at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics
Considered one of the sport's all-time greats
She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Rosie MacLennan stands out as an Olympic trampolinist, as she's the only trampoline athlete to successfully defend her title.
Born in Canada in 1988, MacLennan started competing internationally in 1999. She competes in both individual and synchro events, and her synchro partner is fellow Olympian Karen Cockburn.
Rosannagh MacLennan won a gold medal in women's trampoline at the 2012 London Olympic Games
MacLennan is the first Canadian trampoline athlete to earn an Olympic gold, and she is the 2018 World Trampoline Champion.
Her remarkable consistency, technical prowess and ability to perform under pressure have solidified her legacy as one of the sport's all-time greats.
3. Uladzislau Hancharou
He won his country's first Olympic Gold for trampolining at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics
His wife, Hanna, is also a trampoline athlete
His nickname is Vlad
Uladzislau Hancharou is a Belarusian, born in Vitsyebsk in 1995. He started training in trampolining at age six and made his senior debut in 2012 aged 17.
Vlad can master complex individual and synchro routines, making him a very versatile athlete. In 2013, he competed in his first World Championship, and by 2014, he was a regular podium winner.
His home country of Belarus celebrates him, as he's brought glory to the nation and improved its standing on the global sports stage.
4. He Wenna
Her nickname is the “Trampolining Princess”
She won Olympic gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Despite a left ankle injury, she won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics
He Wenna is another Chinese trampoline gymnastics icon recognised and celebrated for her Olympic achievements.
She made history as the inaugural Olympic champion in the discipline in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics, scoring 37.80.
Born in Longyan in 1989, Wenna started trampolining at the age of nine after her teacher encouraged her to consider the sport.
Her technical precision and artistry have contributed to the sport's evolution and elevated the level of competition on the international stage.
5. Jason Burnett
He’s held the Canadian Individual Trampoline Championships title nine times
He earned silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
He’s noted for holding the world record of 18.8 for a routine performed in a competition
Jason Burnett was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1986. He’s known for completing the world's most challenging routine with a degree of difficulty (DD) of 20.6 during a training session.
Burnett excels in complex individual, synchro and team events. The routine where he won Olympic silver in 2008 was rated as the most difficult of the competition.
Burnett trains in Richmond Hill at Skyriders Trampoline Place under coach Dave Ross, who also trains other Canadian Olympians.
6. Karen Cockburn
She’s won multiple Olympic medals, including two silver and one bronze
She's the only female trampolinist to make it to the Olympic podium three times
In 2019, Cockburn became the Gymnastics Canada National Team Director for Trampoline Gymnastics
Karen Cockburn was another of coach Dave Ross's trampoline athletes, along with Jason Burnett and Rosie MacLennan, Cockburn’s synchro partner. She was born in Toronto in 1980 and started trampolining at age 11.
Cockburn was a dominant competitor in senior competitions, winning medals at three Olympic events (2000, 2004 and 2008) and narrowly missing a fourth medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she was chosen as a flag bearer for the closing ceremony.
7. Lu Chunlong
He won Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
At the 2012 London Olympics, he earned a bronze medal
In 2011, he was the Men's Individual World Champion
Lu Chunlong was born in Jiangyin, China, in 1989 and he’s a prominent trampolining athlete. He and Dong Dong kept China's Men's Trampoline Olympic title in 2008 and 2012.
Chunlong helped his team earn gold at the 2007 and 2009 World Championships, plus a silver at the 2011 World Championships in Birmingham.
He earned himself an individual silver at the 2009 event and won the 2011 Men's Individual World Championship title.
8. Irina Karavaeva
The first female Olympic champion in trampolining (2000)
A three-time World Champion and a three-time European Champion
She started with tumbling, then moved over to trampolining
Irina Karavaeva was born in Krasnodar, Russia, in 1975. She started competing in senior trampolining in 1990 and raked in gold, silver and bronze medals.
At the 2001 Trampoline World Championships, she was incorrectly awarded a gold due to a judging error. In an act of fair play, Karavaeva gave her gold medal to her German competitor and friend, Anna Dogonadze, who rightfully earned the medal.
For this, she received the International Fair Play award from then-IOC president, Jacques Rogge.
9. Yuriy Nikitin
He won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens
He is the second male individual to win an Olympic gold medal
His winning score was three-tenths of a point more than the defending title holder, Aleksandr Moskalenko
Yuriy Nikitin is a Ukrainian trampoline athlete born in 1978. He started his trampolining career in secondary school because, as a child, he loved the extremity of jumping on trampolines. In fact, gymnastic sports are some of the most extreme in the world!
His success at the 2004 Olympics was surprising, especially since he'd never ranked above fifth in four World Championships.
Nikitin went on to represent Ukraine at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, but he didn't win any medals.
10. Bryony Page
The first trampolinist at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics to win a medal (silver)
She won bronze at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics
The first British female gymnast to win medals at back-to-back Olympics
In 1990, Bryony Page was born in Crewe, England, and nine short years later, she took up trampolining. However, she only started concentrating on the sport full-time after graduating from university in 2015.
Page struggled with the yips for two years at the beginning of her career, but she overcame these wrist spasms with the help of a confidence coach.
Unfortunately, Page was too ill to attend the 2012 Olympics. Still, later that year, she won individual gold at the 2012 World Cup in Bulgaria.
The 10 Greatest Olympic Trampolinists of All-Time
These 10 Olympic trampolinists have elevated trampoline gymnastics to new heights, shaping its identity as a dynamic and captivating Olympic discipline.
We’re looking forward to the 2024 Olympics to see who will bounce into the top three coveted positions.
Do you agree with our list of the top 10 greatest Olympic trampolinists of all time? Did we miss anyone? Let us know in the comments!
