A Redlands-registered athlete has won a silver medal at the World Age Trampoline Gymnastics Championships in Birmingham, falling only just short of gold.
Harrison Lee and his synchro partner Samuel Durkin from Rockhampton have won the silver medal in the 17-21 years men’s final at the 2024 World Age Trampoline Gymnastics Championships.
Lee and Durkin scored 48.260 narrowly missing gold by Japan’s duo score of 50.960.
This was not the first time Harrison had worn the green and gold after representing Australia in New Zealand, Japan, Bulgaria and now England.
Harrison’s coach Lyn Gilroy said trampolining was a very difficult sport where you only get one shot to do your best.
“The boys needed to put together 10 skills while jumping as high as they could, performing the skills as technically correct as they could and in time with each other,” she said
“It is always a nervous time for everyone until that very last jump is landed.”
Although the World Age Championships was not unknown territory for Harrison, Ms Gilroy said she could not be prouder of the hard work he had put in.
“It is not always about getting the technical things right, it is about helping each athlete develop as a person and sometimes it is just about listening, supporting and encouraging them to find their voice,” she said.
“I am proud of all the athletes that I coach, and there is no doubt that Harrison is driven to reach his goals.”
In addition to his silver medal success, Harrison finished 32nd in his individual trampoline event out of a strong field of 70 athletes.
Ms Gilroy has been Harrison’s coach for over eight years and said throughout this time Harrison has competed at local, state and national events representing his club and Queensland.
“His success is not just from the training, it is all the allied health team and family that supports Harrison,” she said.
“Trying to balance training, work commitments and fundraising to support training and competition commitments is difficult for all of our athletes as they follow their dreams.”
Redlands City Gymsports Administration Officer Steve Palmer said Harrison’s recent move to the club helped boost the club’s 40th anniversary year registrations above 700 – the highest since the Sydney Olympics.
“It paves the way for record numbers in the lead-up to the Brisbane Games in 2032,” he said.
