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The University of Toronto’s Rosie MacLennan won a gold medal in trampoline on July 19 – but almost didn’t get a chance to compete.

The grad student suffered a concussion three weeks ago and a Canadian Olympic Committee official told U of T News “it was touch and go whether she would be named to the team.”

In a one-on-one interview at Canada House at the Hilton Hotel on July 20, MacLennan, 26, dismissed such thoughts.

“It was very mild, so it was more precautionary, but I had a great team supporting me and getting me back on the trampoline. It definitely threw a little kink in my preparation but I was very happy to compete. It was an incredible experience being in my home town in front of my family and friends.”

With her successful defence of her Pan Am title, MacLennan became the third woman from U of T to win gold at the . Rower Kate Sauks, who graduated from U of T in October, 2014 with a PhD in rehabilitation sciences and anatomy was the first to win gold, collecting her medal July 14 in the women's lightweight double sculls. (.) 

And student Michelle Li (pictured at left in a photo by Mike Ridewood/COC) won gold in singles badminton on July 16, triumphing over Rachel Honderich, who had been her partner earlier in the Games when the pair took the bronze medal in badminton doubles.

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Other U of T athletes winning medals include equestrienne Belinda Trussell (team silver in dressage), swimmer who took bronze in the men's 200m butterfly and undergraduate Lucy Nowell who became a double medallist July 20 with bronze medals in group ribbons and group clubs/hoops. 

MacLennan won and is known for her three triple routine, which won her a silver medal at the world championships last November in Daytona Beach. She will be a favourite to win another medal at the next Summer Olympics in Rio in 2016. 

Given her injury and the impact it had on the final weeks of preparation leading up to the Games MacLennan chose not to do three triple flips at the Games on Sunday. However, judging is based on height (she reached 18 feet) and perfect form over the degree of difficulty.    

Growing up in King City, MacLennan says “my parents had me in every single sport you could think of,” but she was competing internationally in trampoline by age 11 and her focus led her to become Canadian National Women’s Champion in 2005, 2009 and 2011.  Her parents were with her at the press conference at Canada House. 

MacLennan obtained her Bachelor of Physical Education at U of T in 2012 and is pursuing her masters in exercise science. 

“I’m working on it now,” she said. “It’s been a challenge trying to balance my academics and my athletics but U of T has been tremendously supportive.”

She said attending U of T for her undergraduate degree was “incredible. I had a really great experience with that program. I got to make some really incredible friends and work with some really incredible professors. 

“I know that the education I got there definitely helped in my sport. Just learning how your body works and how to maximize performance as well.”

MacLennan has another passion in addition to trampoline – helping children to get involved in sports.

“I work with a couple of organizations – Right to Play, and Jump Start. For me it is just something else I can get involved in. I am really passionate about getting kids  involved in sport and using play as an educational tool.”

She has been in Liberia twice with Right to Play, in 2012 and 2013, each time for a week. 

In her blog, MacLennan writes about a 12-year-old girl she met in Clara Town, Liberia, who started smoking and drinking at 12, and started using drugs until she saw the Olympic Games.  

“The power of sport, positive people in her life and the urge to be someone better brought her back to life and completely changed the path she was taking,” MacLennan wrote. “Nowhere in the world is free from struggle and challenge. While our struggles and challenges may differ, change starts with you and you have the power to make a difference even it is only in one person’s life.”