Nicole Ahsinger Ties Best U.S. Finish With Sixth Place In Trampoline
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by Bob Reinert
Nicole Ahsinger in action during the Women's Trampoline Qualification at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 on July 30, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
Many people can relate to the pure joy of bouncing on a trampoline at some point in their lives, but few can say they’ve experienced it at the Olympic Games. Nicole Ahsinger has done both.
Ahsinger matched the highest U.S. finish ever in Olympic women’s trampoline gymnastics with her effort Friday at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre.
Ahsinger, a 23-year-old Lafayette, Louisiana, resident, placed sixth in the final with a score of 54.350. That finish matched the one achieved by Savannah Vinsant at the Olympic Games London 2012. Vinsant was the only other U.S. women’s trampoline performer to reach an Olympic final.
A world team silver medalist and the reigning U.S. champion, Ahsinger has now competed in two Olympic Games. She placed 15th in Rio in 2016. Ahsinger has competed in four world championships and won a mixed team silver medal in 2019.
Ahsinger earned her place in the Olympic final earlier in the day by qualifying in seventh place with scores of 48.325 and 53.785 for a total of 102.110.
China's Xueying Zhu and Lingling Liu won the women’s gold and silver medals with scores of 56.635 and 56.350, respectively. Great Britain's Bryony Page claimed the bronze with a 55.735.
Another world silver medalist, Aliaksei Shostak, represented the U.S. in the men’s competition on Saturday. Shostak failed to make the finals, however, after his leg slipped through the trampoline during the qualifying round. He placed 13th by posting scores of 51.165 and 30.985 for a total of 82.150.
Ivan Litinovich of Belarus took the gold medal with a score of 61.715. China’s Dong Dong claimed the silver at 61.235, while Dylan Schmidt of New Zealand went home with bronze by posting a 60.675.
Litinovich’s gold was the first for Belarus in these Games. Dong won his fourth medal in as many Olympic appearances.
Shostak, also from Lafayette, Louisiana, and Ahsinger are both members of the Trampoline and Tumbling Express club there.
Participating in his first Olympic Games, the 26-year-old Shostak was born in Belarus. His father, Aliaksandr Shostak, competed for that country in artistic gymnastics at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games.
The younger Shostak has competed at six world championships.
Want to follow Team USA athletes during the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020? Visit TeamUSA.org/Tokyo2020 to view the medal table, results and competition schedule.
Bob Reinert #
Bob Reinert spent 17 years writing sports for The Boston Globe. He also served as a sports information director at Saint Anselm College and Phillips Exeter Academy. He is a contributor to TeamUSA.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.
