Medallists
Trampolinists make leap forward at Ontario Cup
Local trampolinists Keira Gould, Isaac Giggs and Ethan Fansher came home from the
2019 Trampoline and Tumbling First Ontario Cup with some impressive results.
Gould, 12, competed in the Level 4, 15 and under category for the first time and won a silver medal for her individual routine at the event, which took place from Feb. 8 to 10 in Oshawa. With her score of 91.305, she is now officially considered a national level athlete as she moved up to Level 5.
“I thought, there’s no way I got second place, no way,” said Gould. “I was so happy and celebrating because that was such a shocker to me because I knew some of the girls that were in my level competed in it before so I knew they were going to be strong and prepared.”
Gould also competed in the synchro mixed Level 4 category and won a bronze medal with her partner Roshni James.
“It was such an amazing competition and we didn’t expect to get the places we got knowing that it was a 15 and under category and I’m only 12,” said Gould.
Gould started training when she was nine after a friend suggested she try it. She first started at Airborne Trampoline KW in Cambridge but now trains at Skyriders Trampoline Place in Richmond Hill.
At Skyriders, Gould trains with top level coaches including David Ross, the Canadian national team coach who coaches Olympians such as Rosie MacLennan and Jason Burnett, two athletes that Gould looks up to.
Despite many setbacks over the years, including a broken arm, appendix surgery and ankle and knee aches, Gould has managed to progress a level each year.
Allison Tanaka, one of Gould’s coaches at Skyriders, said her attitude is the key to her success.
“She comes in with a really positive attitude and she gets along with all of her teammates and is super encouraging,” said Tanaka. “Keira is hard working and she is always focused and always wants to learn new skills.”
Gould is now ranked second in all of Ontario and will compete in the Level 5, 16 and under category in the Second Ontario Cup. Gould said she dreams of one day making it to the Olympics and wants to travel the world as a trampolinist.
Giggs, 15, and Fansher, 14 competed in the synchro mixed Level 2 category and came out on top of 29 other pairs, taking home the gold medal.
Fansher also took home a gold medal in the Level 2, 14 and over category while Giggs won the silver medal in this category.
Both train at Airborne Trampoline KW. Giggs started in the sport 2½ years ago after giving up diving and swimming.
He said he owes a lot of his success to his parents and coaches, especially Ryan Labrie, who he trains with the most.
“Ryan is just a really nice guy and he pushes me when I train but not to the point where I feel uncomfortable,” said Giggs.
Labrie said what makes Giggs so successful is how hard he works on the trampoline.
“When you first see him he seems like he’s unmotivated and a bit of a teenager but you know the second he hops on the trampoline he does his very best and he is good,” said Labrie.
Giggs said he is excited and happy with his performance at the competition and feels ready for the next one.
Fansher started training two years ago and did a year of recreational trampolining before moving to the competitive side this year. Labrie said Fansher was moved out of recreational because of how well he was doing.
“His pathway to success has been him staying focused and motivated to try and be better because he picks things up naturally and he keeps pushing,” said Labrie.
Fansher said he wouldn’t be where he is today without his coaches — Labrie, Stephanie Stuart and Chris Martin. He said they have helped improve his skills and his form.
“I owe a lot of success to my coaches because if I had bad coaches I would have ended up with terrible form and I would have probably wanted to quit,” said Fansher. “I think I owe that to my coaches for training me properly.”
Fansher said he was happy with the results at the competition but is going to continue to work on his routines to make them better. In the future, Fansher said he would like to make it to the Olympics.
Labrie believes that both Fansher and Giggs can go far in the sport.
“I definitely think they have a shot at pushing toward the national level. They have a great aptitude for trampoline and they work really hard,” said Labrie.
“I think if they keep up with it there is some good things in their future.”
From March 22 to 24, these three athletes will compete in the Second Ontario Cup in Niagara Falls. Their results in this competition and the Third Ontario Cup will be crucial in determining whether they will qualify for the 2019 Canadian Championships in July.
Alana Thoman’s column appears Wednesdays.