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.

When I was a trampolinist in Lafayette, Lafayette was the mecca for American trampoline talent, thanks to my father, national coach and founder of the first governing body for trampoline competitions in the world, Jeff Hennessy. Our small home town remained THE place to train for serious athletes in the sport.

Dad retired many years ago, but he created enthusiasm for the sport. A couple of gyms in the area maintained trampoline programs. Industrious gym owner, Tara Guidry, brought in Belarus Olympian and World Champion, Dmitri Poliaroush, to coach her team of Olympic hopefuls – a move that proved to be fruitful.

Read more about these champions in this July 3rd Times-Picayune article: Pair of Louisiana Athletes Makes Team in Trampoline

… makes me proud …