| Dylan Schmidt took to the Olympic stage today, competing in the men’s trampoline event, where he won bronze—New Zealand’s first trampoline Olympic medal. The double Olympian put up a strong compulsory routine of 52.415 followed by an even stronger voluntary routine scoring him 59.705, qualifying him through to finals in 3rd place. Dylan then jumped a solid 60.675 for his bronze medal, behind Ivan Litvinovich of Belarus (gold) and familiar rival Dong Dong of China (silver). “Dylan has done well to work just as much on his mental game, as he has on his physical game, not only in rehabbing from injury but to improve his skills and performance to the degree required to medal on the Olympic stage. Dylan and his team, throughout this cycle, have done an amazing job and we’re really happy that they have been rewarded with the prestigious result they have worked so hard for,” says Tony Compier, CEO of Gymnastics New Zealand. Schmidt decided more than 10 years ago that he would like to go to the Olympics. Though he has had a taste of near-Olympic victory with his gold medal win at the 2014 Youth Olympics, and 7th place finish at Rio 2016, Schmidt’s preparation for Tokyo went a lot differently than planned. Injury and surgery kept him out of competition through 2018 but he impressively seemed to pick up where he left off when he re-entered the world cup circuit in 2019, finishing in the top 8 at all four world cups. His 12th place finish at the 2019 World Championships was then the last international competition he competed at, before today in Tokyo. Schmidt has commented that Tokyo 2020 was always front of mind through his injury rehab, and he wanted to come out the other side better and stronger. And what a way to prove that he has done so, than with an Olympic medal. Schmidt competed in Tokyo with fellow, and New Zealand’s first female, trampoline athlete Madaline (Maddie) Davidson, who finished 10th in her competition yesterday. Artistic gymnast and fellow double Olympian finished 52nd in his all-around competition. Ends. More information Official results Contact: Anna Robertson Communications Manager 021 424 938 |