Gymnastics Canada – KAMLOOPS, B.C., (March 19) — Two towering figures in Canadian trampoline led the way at the Canada Cup on Saturday with reigning women’s Olympic champion Rosie MacLennan of Toronto and 2008 Olympic silver medallist Jason Burnett, also of Toronto, at the top of the standings after the qualification round.

MacLennan topped the women’s field with a score of  97.385 points, followed by Samantha Sendel of Aurora, Ont., (95.830) and four-time Olympian Karen Cockburn of Toronto, (95.630).

Burnett placed first on the men’s side with 103.825 points, ahead of Wenlong Ning of China in second, (102.450), and Keegan Soehn of Red Deer, Alta., in third, (101.255).

MacLennan said her performance in the prelims was “a little bit rough,” but hoped to come back stronger in the finals on Sunday.

“My hope here is to solidify my spot for the Olympics and to work on a new routine and do everything I can to get it as stable as possible,” said MacLennan.

Despite clinching a spot for Canada in women’s trampoline at the 2016 Olympics last year at the world championships, MacLennan still must earn her ticket to Rio by coming out on top in the Canadian selection process, including results from the Canada Cup.

“Right now I have a lot of ideas about what I’d like to see in my optional routine at the Olympics, but I need to re-jig some things after taking so much time off last year.”

Burnett, who is hoping to compete at his third consecutive Olympics Games, first must clinch a spot for Canada in the men’s event at the final qualification meet next month in Rio and then, like MacLennan, earn his trip to the Games through the selection process.

“The Canada Cup is a very important meet for me because it will contribute to the Olympic selection process within Canada should we earn the spot at the test event,” said Burnett, a nine-time Canadian men’s champion.

“I was happy with my performance today. The height on my routines was a bit low but they were quite stable.”

Burnett, who has been battling back from knee surgery over the last year, said he’s close to being where he needs to be for the Olympic qualifier.

“The injury has been a challenge figuring out how to keep it stable, but I’m just about there and ready to push through and to start increasing height and difficulty.”

Competition concludes at the Canada Cup on Sunday with finals in tumbling, and individual, double mini and synchronized trampoline.

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First established in 1969, Gymnastics Canada is the national governing body for the sport of gymnastics in Canada. Gymnastics Canada works closely with the twelve Provincial Federations and the 700 local clubs to provide a broad range of programs and services to meet the needs of all participants. From athlete development, to coaching and judging education, Gymnastics Canada sets the operating standards and practices for the sport in Canada. Our mandate is to promote and provide positive and diverse gymnastics experience through the delivery of quality and safe gymnastics programming. Visit www.gymcan.org for more information, or follow us @CDNgymnastics.
 

For more information, please contact: 

Julie Forget
Director, Communications & Marketing
Gymnastics Canada
(819)210-2064
jforget@gymcan.org