Rosannagh MacLennan is true to her word.
Even as a youngster, she expressed her intent to compete in the Olympics. In August, she’ll be there in Beijing living up to that pledge after being named to the women’s trampoline team following a second-place showing at the Canadian championships earlier this month in Calgary.
It may have been a foregone conclusion to some observers in the sport that the 19-year-old from King City would claim the second Canadian berth to join Karen Cockburn in Beijing. For MacLennan, however, there was no celebrating until the process was official.
“We had an idea beforehand, but it was nice to be nominated,” said MacLennan, who competes in the final World Cup event before the Olympics in Arosa, Switzerland on the weekend. “Getting that second spot was not a given so it was nerve-wracking.
“I’m looking forward to it. The Olympics is the biggest unifying experience in the world, just to be on (Team) Canada alone with 600 athletes is amazing.”
It was while tagging along with her older brothers, Matthew and Michael, and sister, Kate, for their gymnastics classes that MacLennan fell in love with trampoline. It became her tool to get to the world’s largest sports stage.
“Even when I was little, I told my friends I wanted to go to the Olympics, and that was even before I got into trampoline,” said MacLennan, a participant in the sport for eight years. “Now it’s a bit more serious.
“I’ve been at it for a long time. I guess when I was younger I would try most tricks. A lot of it is perseverance. There’s some very good athletes, but some just don’t stick with it.”
Too young to compete at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece despite her status as one of Canada’s premier female trampolinists, the third-year physical education and health student at the University of Toronto is the leading candidate to succeed two-time Olympic medalist and friend Karen Cockburn as the top Canadian female in her sport. Both women train at Skyriders Trampoline Place in Richmond Hill.
To participate in World Cup events, athletes must be at least 16 by the end of the year. For the Olympics, the cutoff is 17 years.
“In 2004, I was too young, but also not good enough,” conceded MacLennan last week before departing for Switzerland. “In the past four years, I’ve improved. I still have a ways to go to achieve
the perfect technique, if that’s possible.”
Cockburn, who had already clinched a berth on the Olympic squad before nationals, claimed the Canadian title for the 10th time and will be seeking to add to her collection of medals in August.
Cockburn won silver in Athens and bronze four years earlier in Sydney.
“Training with her is motivational and inspirational,“ said MacLennan, a bridesmaid for Cockburn’s wedding in December. “You want to be working with the top athletes so when they’re in your own gym, they’re even closer. She’s been to two Olympics already so talking with her prepares me.”
MacLennan, who won the Canadian title in 2005, already has tested the Olympics venue in Beijing, placing second in a test meet in December. The World Cup event in Switzerland is a chance to make a final lasting impression with the judges before the world’s best 16 trampolinists gather in Beijing.
“I want to go into the Olympics confidently and it’s important the judges get to know your name,” she said. “I want to raise that to get more of an edge against the top girls. It would be nice to have more time but I think six or seven weeks will be enough to get where I need to be.
Athlete of the Week is a regular feature highlighting local athletes and their accomplishments. If you know of a nominee, contact The Era-Banner at sports@erabanner.com, fax 905-853-5379 or call 905-853-8888.