Canadian gymnast Sophiane Méthot can be beginning her 26th birthday celebration somewhat early in Paris whereas sporting an Olympic bronze medal round her neck.
Confidence gained from a bronze efficiency final month at a World Cup in Portugal propelled Méthot to the rostrum at Bercy Arena on Friday after she scored 55.650 factors within the last of her Olympic debut.
It represents Canada’s eighth all-time trampoline medal on the Summer Games Canada and a minimum of one top-three end at six of seven Games for the reason that sport’s Olympic debut in 2000.
“It wasn’t my best performance in qualifications, but [the final performance] was really a performance on demand, as I know how to do so well,” stated Méthot, who will formally have fun her birthday on Saturday.
“I practised it thousands of times, so I knew that I was really producing something solid. I had to do it at the right time. That’s exactly what I did.”
Retired gymnast Kyle Shewfelt, who received 2004 gold on flooring train for Canada’s first-ever Olympic medal in inventive gymnastics, stated Méthot delivered the routine of her desires within the Olympic last.
“That was fantastic … a total home run for [her] coming into this final ranked in eighth position,” stated the CBC Sports analyst. “There was a plan [with Méthot and her coach]: get into the final and then give it your everything.
“Coming into this Olympics, she stated she was in such an ideal psychological area coming off [the World Cup bronze]. Look at that execution. Those knees are glued collectively. She was so centred throughout this routine.”
WATCH | Methot collects Canada’s 8th all-time Olympic trampoline medal:
Sophiane Méthot of Varennes, Que., scored 55.650 points to claim a bronze medal in women’s trampoline at Paris 2024.
Méthot, who hails from Varennes, Que., was in bronze position before the final gymnast in the eight-woman final, Yicheng Hu of China, who went on to fall and that meant her routine was terminated.
Reigning world champion Bryony Page of Great Britain won gold (56.480) and Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya of Belarus captured silver (56.060), the first medal by a neutral athlete at the Paris Olympics.
“Most of the routine was very properly achieved,” Shewfelt said of Page. “Bryony is a category act and units a golden commonplace on trampoline.”
Zhu Xueying, who won 2021 Olympic gold in Tokyo, was fourth (55.510).
Over the past year, Shewfelt noted Méthot has had mentorship from Rosie MacLennan, the former Canadian gymnast who won back-to-back Olympic trampoline gold in 2012 (London) and 2016 (Rio).
Winning that bronze medal is as a result of of her braveness, her combat, her grit and her willpower.— CBC Sports analyst Kyle Shewfelt on Canadian Olympic medallist Sophiane Methot
“Rosie informed her the method main up [to the Olympics] was not going to be excellent,” said Shewfelt, “however that she would be capable of ship if she trusted herself and her coaching.”
Earlier Friday, Méthot, who is ranked 11th in the world, earned the last spot for the final with a best score of 54.640 from her floor exercise after playing it safe, Shewfelt pointed out, with a lower-level routine, in terms of difficulty, to better her chances of reaching the final.
“What is admirable is she went after [the gold medal]. She knew she had nothing to lose [after qualifying eighth],” he said. “Winning that bronze medal is as a result of of her braveness, her combat, her grit and her willpower.”
Karen Cockburn, another Canadian gymnastics legend and three-time Olympic medallist, met Méthot on the arena floor to congratulate her after Friday’s final along with MacLennan.
“She has achieved her work,” said Shewfelt of Méthot. “She’s been pushing herself within the gymnasium to enhance on her weaknesses and it paid off.”
WATCH | Olympic medal ceremony — Méthot receives trampoline bronze:
Watch Sophiane Méthot of Varennes, Que., be awarded her bronze medal at Paris 2024.
Méthot struggled with an injury during the qualification process for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics — she went to the Games as an alternate — and returned to competition late in 2021.
Last year, Méthot placed fifth in the women’s individual event at the world trampoline championships to give Canada one Olympic quota spot.
“She bought to have the behind-the-scenes Olympic expertise,” said Shewfelt. “All the preparation, noticed the best way [MacLennan] bought prepared [for competition]. She stated that performed such a giant function to have her as a mentor, and what a efficiency for Sophiane. You can see the emotion in her eyes.”
Méthot is a two-time Pan American champion who received particular person bronze in her 2017 debut at worlds in Sofia, Bulgaria, the identical yr she took synchronized bronze at a World Cup in Minsk, Belarus.
