How gold medallist Rosie MacLennan stays grounded off the trampoline
Rosie MacLennan flipped, twirled and bounced her way to her second consecutive Olympic gold medal on the trampoline in Rio; but how does a gymnast who is constantly soaring to new heights, both literally and figuratively, stay grounded?
Her family.
"The first thing I did after the London Olympics was go up to the cottage to celebrate my mom's birthday," said MacLennan on Metro Morning Thursday. "She made me sweep the leaves off the deck. So ya, keep normalcy with your family."
MacLennan won her first gold medal in London, the only Canadian athlete to take home the winning hardware at the 2012 games. As a result she was named Canada's flag-bearer for opening ceremonies in Rio and broke the curse associated with that mantel when she defended her gold medal performance with another at these Olympics.
The 27-year-old isn't letting that all go to her head though.
"Athletes are just people," MacLennan told host Matt Galloway. "We just have had the opportunity to live an incredible experience, live our dreams and pursue our passions."
The trampoline gymnast hopes that by sharing her dream and experience it will encourage others to follow their own.
MacLennan has also shared her experiences with first-time gold medallists Penny Oleksiak and Erica Wiebe. Oleksiak, 16, took the Olympics by storm winning four swimming medals in her first games and Wiebe won the gold in wrestling.
"It is something you can't prepare for, nor should you, going into an Olympics," said MacLennan.
That's why she says having other members of Team Canada around that have experienced what you have is so important. MacLennan went to those teammates after she won and she says that she told Oleksiak and Wiebe to come to her if they have any questions or concerns.
In the end though, she says it's important to keep track of what hasn't changed.
"Realize you are the same person, you have the same friends, you have the same life in many ways, and in the ways that are truly important, than you can kind of keep your feet on the ground."
