Pickering athlete bounces to gold

AJAX -- Brandon Robinson had quite the showing at the 3rd Ontario Cup trampoline event, held recently in Ottawa.

The 16-year-old Robinson finished with three gold medals and a silver. The gold showings came in the Double Mini Trampoline event in the novice men's 15-plus event, while another came alongside Mariah Madigan in the National Mixed Syncro event. The third one came with Greg Tomczak in the Youth Men Syncro event, while the silver was earned in the Youth Men Individual Trampoline category.

After coming off of a very strong second qualifier a few weeks prior to the event in Mississauga, one of Robinson's coaches asked him if he wanted to add another event to his repertoire -- the double mini trampoline. It is a very different event in comparison to the regular trampoline event as the athletes have to sprint down a track and do two tricks off the trampoline and land on a firm mat.

Robinson, a Grade 10 student at Pickering High School, was up for the challenge, training three times prior to the event, before advancing to win gold. He will compete in the event at the provincial championships later this month.

In his individual routine, where he won silver, Robinson had increased the degree of difficulty from his last completion, going from an 11.2 to an 11.9. Heading in, his goal was simply to complete the routine, making the silver all the more impressive.