Medallist Schmidt breaks new ground

New Zealand’s Olympic efforts broke new barriers today when men’s trampolinist Dylan Schmidt beat several highly rated European athletes to win a bronze medal.

Schmidt’s third placing was no flash in the pan, either.

He showed what he was capable of in the qualifying section, when his two efforts netted him scores of 52.415 and 59.705 for a total of 112.120. That placed him third in qualifying behind two formidable Belarusians, Ivan Litvinovich and Uladzislau Hancharou.

The final – just one performance – was run in reverse order.

The fourth competitor, China’s Dong Dong, recorded 61.235 and took the lead. Schmidt was the sixth competitor and he turned in an athletic, controlled performance that earned him a score of 60.675, which meant at that moment he was lying in second.

It was a tricky time for New Zealand fans, and for the 24-year-old Schmidt.

There were just two competitors left, the Belarusians who had topped the qualifying section.

If they both went well, Schmidt would be out of the medals. If they both went badly, he’d have silver.

First up was Hancharou and he was awarded 60.565 – Schmidt was definitely among the medals, but silver or bronze?

Litvinovich, the final trampolinist, gave a masterful display and was rewarded with a score of 61.175. Dong slipped down to second and Schmidt to third.

This is the first Olympic medal New Zealand has won in trampolining, which comes under the banner of gymnastics at the Games. It is the first Olympic medal New Zealand has won in any form of gymnastics.

Schmid, now living in Auckland, was introduced to trampolining when he was growing up in Te Anau. The sport is certainly in the family – his brother and sister are both international competitors.

In 2016, Schmidt, aged only 19, became the first New Zealander to compete in trampolining at the Olympics and he acquitted himself very well, with a seventh placing. He had hinted at his potential when winning a gold medal at the 2014 Youth Olympics and in the senior ranks has also shown he can foot it with the world’s best while competing at world champs, where three times he has placed in the top 15.

But all that is a far cry from winning a medal at the Olympics and now Schmidt has joined those illustrious ranks.