Tokyo, Japan, July 30, 2021: Zhu Xueying won gold and led China to a 1-2 in the women’s trampoline gymnastics at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre on Friday, July 30.
Zhu finished first in 56.635 points followed by teammate Liu Lingling in 56.350. Britain’s Bryony Page, a Rio Olympic silver medallist, took the bronze in 55.735.
Canada’s Rosie MacLennan, winner at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, was denied a golden hat-trick while reigning world champion Hiraru Mori stumbled on one of her routines and failed to make it past qualifying.
“I put in a lot of effort to reach the podium. With Tokyo 2020 being postponed for a year I had more time to be fully prepared and I focused on the things I wanted to improve. I am very happy with how I did,” said Zhu, a 2014 Youth Olympic Games champion in Nanjing.
Compatriot Liu, 26, said: “I’m almost at a retiring stage, so this is a great milestone for me. I have been working really hard for this since the age of six. Winning an Olympic medal has always been my dream and taking the silver is amazing.”
Despite having won a combined record 11 Olympic golds on the trampoline, Zhu’s victory marked only the second time since the sport was introduced into the Games programme in 2000 that China had taken the women’s gold.
