MacLennan bounces Canada to gold

Rosie MacLennan brought Canada to golden heights Saturday on the Trampoline. The King City, ON native bounced to a near perfect routine with a 57.305 score and raised the Canadian medal count to eight, overtaking the defending Olympic and world champion He Wenna of China. The podium victory marks Canada’s first gold of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

“It hasn’t hit me yet,” said MacLennan after the event. “It’s the biggest score I’ve ever had and I knew it would be a tough one to catch, but you never want to get ahead of yourself.”

Teammate and three-time Olympic medallist Karen Cockburn, who carried the flag at the Closing Ceremonies in Beijing, was fourth, earning a score of 55.860. The Canadian Olympic team veteran and a leader for the Olympic movement in this country expressed support for her teammate and training partner.

“Of course fourth is the worst place to finish,” said Cockburn. “But I am really happy for Rosie. So it’s mixed emotions. It’s a good thing for Canada to win a gold medal.”