NZ Trampoline Athletes Take the World Stage

Anna Robertsone-News

As the 2025 Trampoline World Championships get underway this week, New Zealand’s top athletes are set to compete on the international stage, backed by years of intentional development, long-term planning, and a high-performance pathway designed to support athletes from their earliest stages through to elite competition.

The team includes Olympians Dylan Schmidt and Maddie Davidson, who train under coach Alex Nilov at Olympia Gymnastic Sports, and now stand alongside the next wave of emerging talent coming through the pathway.

High Performance Trampoline Coach and Gymnastics NZ Trampoline Technical Committee Performance Advisor Angie Dougal says this progression is no accident, but the result of a system deliberately built “from the ground up.”

“We’ve been building it for a really long time,” she explains. “Dylan and Maddie came through from when they were very young, and there are lots of athletes who have come through with them and after them. It’s about building sustainability and developing athletes at the right stage for their age, not too fast, but still with high expectations if they want to be competitive at this level.”

That balance of patience and performance has become a defining feature of New Zealand’s trampoline system. Athletes are developed progressively, with a strong emphasis on strength, power, spatial awareness, and technical quality — key ingredients for world-class performance.

“You have to be strong and powerful, you have to be spatially aware, and you have to be very brave. You’re jumping high and doing skills that are scary. And it really does take a village – parents, clubs, coaches, support staff. Nobody gets to this level alone.”

While the senior team competes this week, the athletes following behind them are already showing signs of future podium potential. Many of those heading to World Age Group Champs next week have followed the same development path that has produced Dylan and Maddie.

“Dylan and Maddie both medalled at World Age Groups when they were coming through,” says Dougal. “Now we have multiple athletes with that same potential. That’s exciting for the future.”

This year also marks a first for New Zealand, with mixed synchro pairs competing at World Championships. Dylan and Maddie will pair together, and Dougal believes they are genuine medal contenders. A second mixed pairing—2025 NZ Champions Rachel Schmidt and James Dougal—will also take the floor.

“Synchro has always been a strength for us, but it’s usually been same-gender pairings,” she says. “Everyone is looking for mixed-gender formats now, and we’re ready for it.”

Looking ahead, Dougal says the focus extends well beyond a single event or season.

“We always look long term – 2032 and beyond. We want athletes who are robust, well supported, and still in the sport when they reach their peak. That’s how you build something that lasts.”

Follow the Action

Qualifications in NZ time

  • 8am Thursday – mixed synchro qualifications
    • Maddie and Dylan, Rachel and James (group 4)
  • 10pm Thursday – trampoline qualifications
    • Dylan Schmidt (group 4)
    • Flynn Gunther (group 4)
    • James Dougal (group 5)
    • Bronwyn Dibb (group 3)
    • Maddie Davidson (group 4)
    • Rachel Schmidt (group 8)
  • 2am Friday – DMT men’s qualifications
    • Cam Robertson (group 3)
  • 6am Friday – DMT women’s qualifications
    • Bronwyn Dibb (group 4)