Rosie MacLennan is still in awe.
In a guest appearance on Dean Blundell & Co. on Wednesday morning, the two-time Canadian gold medallist broke down her experience at Rio 2016 and how special it was to win a second straight gold medal in trampoline.
“It is mind boggling to stand on the podium twice,” she told hosts Dean Blundell and George Rusic. “It was not something I expected the first time [in London 2012] and coming in the second time so I had that opportunity to stand on the podium, see the flag raise, and hear my national anthem twice. It is beyond my wildest dreams.”
MacLenan said she came very close to finishing second this year because silver medallist Bryony Page of Britian had a cleaner routine in the final round.
“There’s three components — difficulty, height, and form,” she explained. “So I had a bit more difficulty. Then she competed. Then my routine was a little bit higher. The girl who came second from Great Britain, her routine was a little cleaner. But because I was higher and mine had a little more difficulty, I had a better score.”
However, the King City, Ont,, native wasn’t able to enjoy the victory immediately after the fact.
“First up, [there is] drug testing,” she said of her post-victory experience. “Right away. They take you off the podium and into the back room and you sit there for a few hours. I tried to spend some time with family and [then got to] take in the rest of the sports and watched and cheer on Team Canada.
Being in Brazil, rather than London, England as she was for the 2012 Olympic Games, provided a very difference experience but she quite enjoyed the city despite all the negative publicity that was coming out prior to the start of Rio 2016.
“There are things you hear about, read about, and try and inform yourself,” she said. “But you definitely focus on training and I knew [the] Olympic committee was providing us with the information we needed and taking every precaution needed keep us safe in every aspect. I was able to put it out of my mind and I wasn’t too worried about it. Nothing that took away from my preparation or my focus. Nothing wrong in my room. The food was alright.
“It was great to do some hikes and go around the city and it was a phenomenal and beautiful city. London, you know, they’re different.”
MacLennan also got to take part in a very special experience in Rio as she was named as Canada’s flag bearer for the opening ceremony.
“It was amazing. I got told a week before the announcement, which was the hardest secret ever to keep. It was such an honour and a privilege to lead an incredible team into the stadium. When I got the flag, the entire team came together as one and we belted the national anthem and chanted Canada at the top of our lungs. There was so much energy and excitement. That’s what it hit me that I was at the Olympics. That moment for first-time Olympians [is] when you’re dream comes true.”
