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University of Toronto student and trampoline superstar Rosie MacLennan reasserted her status as best in the world on November 10 at the 2013 world championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, taking gold in the singles event.

MacLennan has been balancing her training and her work at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE), “epitomizing the U of T student-athlete,”  in the words of her supervisor, Professor Margaret MacNeill. The 2012 Olympic gold medallist’s rise to the top has also been setting an example for younger teammates like fourth-year KPE student Samantha Sendel, MacLennan’s synchronized trampoline partner, who made her third world championship appearance at the event.

“Rosie soars to the highest level of excellence in all she does. Her scholarly achievements shine as brightly as her Olympic, PanAm and World Championship medals,” says MacNeill.

MacLennan completed her master’s coursework last semester. She also was awarded a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant for research on athlete identity and social responsibility.

“Balancing the demands of graduate studies and being a world-class athlete can be difficult,” says MacLennan, who credits support from the Faculty, MacNeill and her high performance team for helping her to achieve this balance. “I’m constantly shifting my priorities back and forth. Prior to worlds, my focus was more on training and preparation, but now that we have finished the season, I can shift back to my studies.”

Sendel, who placed fifth in the individual event in Bulgaria and earned a personal best score, says MacLennan is someone she wholeheartedly admires.

“Jumping with Rosie has always been a huge inspiration,” she says. “Rosie is always willing to help me become better. And watching her in competition is truly motivational." 

Sendel also credits her mentor for inspiring her to enroll at KPE.

“In 2008, before university applications were due, we were in Argentina at a competition and I admitted to Rosie that I had no idea what I wanted to do. She told me about the program. I applied and got in! Seeing her graduate and continue to compete taught me that it is possible to do both school and continue to be a top-level athlete.”

The admiration goes both ways.

“She’s definitely someone to keep an eye on,” says MacLennan of the rising star. “She has the biggest trick and skill repertoire of any female in the world.”

MacLennan says Sendel keeps her on her toes.

“She’s the one who makes me push myself further from my comfort zone than I have ever before.”

The gold medallist, who developed her skills under the leadership of Olympian Karen Cockburn, says that there’s a new dynamic now that she’s the oldest member of the team.

“I had a great mentor who taught me a lot and I try to pass along that knowledge to others,” she says. “Karen is planning to start jumping again in January. I think between the three of us, with the amount of knowledge, experience and eagerness to push ourselves, we could create a unique and valuable dynamic.”

Next for this talented trio: the PanAm Games in Toronto in 2015.

“These world championships showed that we have a strong team,” says MacLennan. “A lot can happen in two years, but I am confident that we will have a strong showing in 2015. I plan to train and work to improve technique and jump height, and hopefully, push the boundaries of women's trampoline.”

Valerie Iancovich is a writer with the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto.