http://www.acrobaticsports.tv/index.php?page=videos&video=24#24

(While I’m improving, feedback is still welcome. Thank you.)

I recall a young Egyptian gymnast who recorded her floor-exercise routine music straight from television. It was the music from Nadia Comanici’s 1976 Olympics floor exercise final routine, including commentary, applause and all.  The national Egyptian gymnastics program was in its most infant stage then, with minimal financial resources, modern equipment and knowledge.  Therefore, it was no surprise that the girl’s choreography was sophomoric and her tumbling skills were nill.  However, Islamic Arabic countries discourage women from participating in sports. So, I realized that it took a lot of courage for this girl to practice and perform gymnastics in public, particularly in a revealing leotard and with nominal ability.  I admired her heart and I really appreciated the opportunities that I have been afforded.

There is no video of the Egyptian girl, but there are plenty of Nadia.  Remember this?

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.  Trampolinists have a history of becoming Olympic divers.  Of note, is Ron Marriot, the first internationally ranked trampolinist, 3rd in the 1980 World Trampoline Championships, to become an Olympian in diving and to stand on the Olympic podium receiving a bronze medal.  There are several other ranking divers who were formerly trampolinists, too.

Second, it is significant because I am a World Double Mini-tramp Champion – Senior Women’s Champion twice.  I’m proud of that accomplishment and what it has afforded me as a stuntwoman.  I have taken advantage of the skills I developed performing trampoline and adapted it to my stunt career.  So, when I started this business, fortunately, I had something to bring to the table.

Go Mathew!  Congratulations.

Blanchard is featured in my last post, but “The Godfather,” however, is my father, Jeff Hennessy.  Dad waited for years for the day to come when trampoline would be an Olympic sport.  It came too late for him to see his daughter compete, nonetheless, it is a victory for the sport that makes me proud.

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 …