Rosannagh MacLennan successfully defended her Olympic title ©Getty Images

Canada's Rosannagh MacLennan became the first gymnast to successfully defend the women’s trampoline Olympic title after a superbly executed routine in the final at the Rio Olympic Arena in RIo de Janeiro. 

The 27-year-old had embraced the honour of becoming the Canadian flagbearer for the Games and looked to thrive under the national spotlight, as she targeted her second Olympic gold.

MacLennan, winner of a Pan American Games gold medal last year in front of a home crowd in Toronto, made sure of her participation in the final by achieving a qualifying score of 103.130 points in her two routines.

The Canadian’s score was the third highest in qualifying, with China’s Li Dan and Belarus’ Tatsiana Piatrenia scoring 104.075 and 104.515 points respectively to top the standings.

British gymnasts appeared in the trampoline final for the first time at an Olympic Games through Bryony Page and Katherine Driscoll.

Page made the most of the opportunity by topping the early standings on 56.040 points. 

Her score reamined the best until MacLennan took to the trampoline, with her higher difficulty routine seeing her move above the British gymnast, despite a lower execution score.

MacLennan received a tally of 56.465 points from the judges, which assured her of at least a medal ahead of Li and Piatrenia’s efforts.

They could not surpass the Canadian’s effort, Li ending behind Page to win the bronze on a score of 55.885 points.

Bryony Page became the first British woman to win an Olympic trampoline medal ©Getty Images
Bryony Page became the first British woman to win an Olympic trampoline medal ©Getty Images

"I held back, I was a lot more confident in it,” MacLennan reflected on her choice of routine.

“The other one was a little shaky and I knew it would be a bit of a gamble and the Olympics isn't a time to gamble.

“I was really happy with the way it went.

"I was so grateful to have the opportunity to come out and compete against such a strong group of women.

“I couldn't be more excited or more proud to stand on top of the podium again.”

MacLennan’s gold medal continued Canada’s record of appearing on the podium at every women’s Olympic event since it was introduced at Sydney 2000, where Karen Cockburn won the bronze and silver at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. 

Page’s silver medal was also Britain’s first in history in the women’s event at an Olympics.

Tomorrow is due to see the men’s trampoline competition contested.