Jason Burnett, trampoline gymnast, heading to 3rd Olympics
Canadian qualified at test event in Rio on Tuesday
Jason Burnett of Toronto is heading to his third Olympic Games after capturing one of eight qualification spots up for grabs in men's trampoline gymnastics at the Aquece Test Event in Rio on Tuesday.
Burnett finished 10th overall in the qualifying rounds with a total score of 104.515, but did not advance to the final. His second optional routine scored fifth highest after his first compulsory routine's score of 47.545 which had ranked him 13th.
"I'm very happy with my performance today," said Burnett. "I accomplished what I set out to do and I can't ask for anything more than that right now.
"Dealing with the aftermath of my ACL tear was tough, but we've found a number of different strategies that keep my knee happy and strong."
"We are very happy for Jason locking up the spot for Canada for Rio," said Stephan Duchesne, high performance director for trampoline gymnastics at Gymnastics Canada.
"Jason will be participating in his third Games and knows exactly what it takes to perform at the highest level. His resilience should be seen as a model for the other athletes because of the two major injuries he has had in this Olympic cycle."
Burnett will join reigning Olympic champion Rosie MacLennan in Rio – MacLennan qualified her spot at the 2015 World Championships in Odense, Denmark in November and was officially selected as Canada's representative in women's trampoline following the Canada Cup competition in Kamloops, B.C. this past February.
Canada's last chance to expand the gymnastics team heading to Rio takes place Thursday when rhythmic gymnast Patricia Bezzoubenko of Toronto takes to the mat at 12 p.m. ET.