Name: Rosannagh MacLennan
Sport: Trampoline
Hometown: King City, Ontario
Nickname: Rosie, Ro
Favorite Sports Memory: Obvious ones are both times I qualified for the Olympics (2008 and 2012) but there is also one memory that stands out amongst others. This might seem small to some people but it really showed me what I love about sport and sportsmanship.
I was competing at a competition in China. After the warm up, all the athletes lined up to March out. In trampoline, we have to march out in our leotards and we give our bags and tracksuits to our coaches. I gave mine to my coach and he went into the gym but it ended up being about a 20 minute wait in a cold hall lined up before marching out. I was obviously freezing which is not conducive to optimum performance. One of my friends from Great Britain, Kat Driscoll, also one of my competitors, noticed the goosebumps covering my body. Her coach was still with her and had her stuff. Kat, already having a jacket on, offered me her track pants so that I could keep my legs warm during the wait. This gesture really reminded me about what sport is all about and the power of sportsmanship, as well as the power of sport to unite. Even though we compete against each other, it reminded me that we are all on this journey together.
How you got involved in your sport: I have three older siblings and my mom was always carting us around to different activities. My older siblings were enrolled in gymnastics but my parents were not happy with the program and concerned about the number of hours the coaches were requiring of them at such a young age. My brothers’ favourite part of gymnastics was trampoline so when they stopped gymnastics and were seeking out new activities and found an advertisement in the newspaper for a trampoline club, they immediately wanted to sign up. My mom could not find a baby sitter for my sister and I so we tagged along to the lesson and I have been jumping ever since.
The moment you knew you wanted to represent Canada: When I was little, every year the Olympics was on, I would be glued to the television for those two weeks. I would watch the opening ceremonies and march around my living room pretending I was one of the athletes in the opening parade. I would watch different sports and mimic the athletes. I would often say to my mom, “I want to be an Olympian” much like another kid might say, “I want to be an astronaut.” I guess the desire to represent Canada has always been inside of me. When I started trampoline, it was not an Olympic sport and my parents were trying to give us the opportunity of finding our passion and try different activities. When it became an Olympic sport in 2000 and I watched Karen and Matt, my dream of being an Olympian became more real and from that point on, I knew I wanted to represent Canada.
Favorite Quote: “The most important moments in your life are not just that final moment but the cumulative experiences leading up to it- on your way, do not forget to stop, enjoy and appreciate the journey.”- Lorne A. Patterson (My Gramps)
CAN Fund Testimonial: After Beijing, I inherited my Gramps’ 1999 Ford Escort. It has served me well for the past 4 years, however, it is getting into the habit of breaking down. I was really stressing about how I would be able to afford the repair costs and, should my lovely blue car break down for good, how I would be able to afford a new car on top of my training, nutrition, and competition expenses. I need a car to get to training up in Richmond Hill, pilates in Ajax and treatment in Mississauga so when my car broke down on me twice in a week, I started panicking. A week after I got my car repaired for the second time (to the point where it would run rather than fixing everything), I got the call about receiving CAN Fund. I will now be able to fix up my blue station wagon (or Gramps-mobile) and no longer have fear that I will be stranded with no way of getting to training.
Best Result: Silver at the 2011 World Championships, Gold at the 2012 London Prepares event.
Share one valuable tool that you use on a daily basis that helps you to be the best athlete you can be. At my gym we have a program called Dartfish that allows us to record our turns and immediately play them back in real time and slow motion. In trampoline, it can be difficult to see the technical errors in the bed because it is so fast. With this technology, we can catch and fix our technique.
Who is one person in your life that has impacted your career and what was it that they taught you? I can’t narrow it down to one but my family. My parents have always been supportive in everyway possible. They taught me the value of sport, to enjoy it and to persevere. They also gave me every possible opportunity to succeed. My two brothers and my sister have always cheered me on and been there for advice. All of my extended family for supporting and believing in me.
My Gramps always inspired my biggest dreams. He reminded me that even if you encounter defeats, you should never be defeated, that you are never defined by the difficulties you face and how you face them. They should make you stronger.
My family has always instilled the belief that whatever you do, you should do it to the best of your abilities.
Have you read any articles or books or watched any videos or movies recently that really inspired you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2XljmWLP58M
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsSC2vx7zFQ
Fun Facts: I love being outside, being outside is my “happy place” and I love most sports/ activities. I have a habit of randomly breaking out into awkward dance moves. An example of this is: In Beijing, I qualified for finals along with my teammate Karen Cockburn. I was so nervous when we were lining up to march out that I needed to break the tension. At the Games, there were video clips of the mascots dancing and one started playing as we were all lined up so I started imitating it.
Website: www.rosiemaclennan.ca