Since I bought my trampoline, I am forced to exercise in my backyard.  But, whether I’m inside or out for the stretching phase of my work-outs, I have a constant companion who just can’t leave me alone.  

Here’s what happens:

It’s tough for athletes to switch careers.  But, we all have to do it at some point in our lives.  We can’t be athletes, or tougher, Champions, all our lives.  We have to shift.  It’s tough.

However, Micheal Phelps is so admired, he can do whatever he wants!  And, he has the clear work-ethic to train and learn as fast as he can.  I give him kudos for his performance hosting Saturday Night Live last weekend.

For myself, I’m not such a national figure as Phelps.  It was very tough to get where I am and the fight continues.  I cannot let up.  I have to continue to move forward and reshape, reclaim, renew, recreate and redefine to maintain a modest standard of living.  

But, I can certainly laugh along the way!  Here’s the opening skit of SNL the other night.  Tina Fey and Amy Poehler had me rolling on the floor in stiches.

The trampoline event ended up much like expected, with a few missteps from top contenders. But, that’s sport.  What surprised me was the results of the Men’s Platform Diving event.  The winner, Mathew Mitcham, who was not Chinese, but Australian … and he was a World Double Mini-tramp Champion (2001 Junior World Champ).  

This is significant in several ways. (more…)

The local newspaper in my home town, The Advertiser, published a couple of wonderful articles about local connection to Olympics in China.  When you get a chance, check them out: Blanchard Relishes Olympics Spotlight and The Godfather of Trampoline in the US.   (more…)

Two Louisiana athletes, Erin Blanchard and Chris Estrada, made the USA’s 2008 Olympic Trampoline Team this week. Considering that only 12 countries qualify to participate in this event, and only one male and one female per qualifying country can earn a spot to compete, this is a huge accomplishment for Lafayette’s shining stars. (more…)

Upon moving to L.A. to become a Hollywood stuntwoman, I brought my athletic skills to the table. My skills gave me a leg up in the film business. I had just competed in the US National Championships and made the US National Trampoline Team to compete in the World Trampoline Championships in Porto, Portugal in 1994.  This video is a sample of my skills back then.

If you have the wonderful opportunity to watch the Trampoline competition in the upcoming Summer Olympics, you’ll be amazed at how it has evolved in such a short period of time.  I don’t know if I could have kept up!  Today’s trampoline athletes are absolutely amazing.  Check them out this August.

Leigh: ULL Years

Recently, a college classmate wrote to me.  He shared a link to a sports discussion forum for my alma mater, ULL - University of Louisiana in Lafayette.  It put a huge grin on my face.

The upshot: it appears that a great way to be remembered is to don a tight leotard and jump high in the rafters on a trampoline during local college basketball game half-time shows in front of thousands of screaming fans with a little beer in their bellies  - especially for such a popular and successful basketball team as USL (now ULL).  

We had so much fun back then.  It’s nice to know that my college mates and community remembers me and my sports activities from those days.