Erin Blanchard

Erin Blanchard (born November 20, 1989) is an American gymnast from Broussard, Louisiana.

Erin Blanchard
Country represented United States
Born (1989-11-20) November 20, 1989
HometownBroussard
Height5’6” (1.68 m)
DisciplineTrampoline gymnastics
LevelSenior International Elite
ClubTrampoline & Tumbling Express
Head coach(es)Tara Guidry & Dmitri Poliaroush

Blanchard competed in the Women's Individual Trampoline on August 15, 2008, at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, but did not advance to the finals.[1]

Early life

Erin is the daughter of Kay and Dwight Blanchard and has three brothers, Caleb, Jon and Dewey. Erin watched the '96 Olympic gymnastics team and dreamed of becoming an Olympic gymnast. Her mother then signed her up that year for a local gym.[2]

The 2006 U.S. champion, Blanchard retired in 2007. She told the Houston Chronicle: "I had some complications with the gym and the coach. I just had to get away from it all." During her eight-month break she worked out with her brother, a body builder, but didn't bounce on a trampoline at all. But once the U.S. secured a wildcard Olympic spot, Blanchard reconsidered her retirement: "When I walked away, I never really thought of the Olympics as a possibility." After a rough first day back, Blanchard said that it took her about a month to relearn most of her skills.[3]

Erin is the cousin of former LSU softball player Katie Guillory.

Trampoline career

Road To Beijing

Blanchard earned her trip to China by edging friend Alaina Hebert in the U.S. trampoline Olympic selection points system. Blanchard and Hebert grew up a few miles apart in Broussard, La. (pop: 6,000) just outside Lafayette and carpooled to practice during their early years in the sport. Fellow Olympic team member Chris Estrada trained with Blanchard before all three moved to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.[3]

Beijing 2008

After earning a berth to the Olympics, Erin competed at the Olympics at the age of only 18. Erin scored a 27.1 during her first, compulsory, routine at the Olympics. She would be ranked tied for 14th after her first routine. Erin scored a 33.8 during her second, optional routine, at the Olympics. She would move up in the rankings to 13. However, only the top 8 advance to finals.[4]

Accomplishments

Achievements
  • 2001 – 2002 USA Junior National Team Member
  • 2006 - 2008 USA National Team Member
  • 2006 – Louisiana Athlete of the Year
  • 2008 – USA Olympic Athlete[5]

National competition results
  • 2001 - Circle of Stars: 1st Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2001 – USA Team Trials: 1st Place Trampoline Individual & Synchronized
  • 2001- USA National Championships: 3rd Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2001 – USA National Championships: 2nd Place Trampoline Synchronized
  • 2002 – Winter Classics: 1st Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2002 – USA National Championships: 1st Place Trampoline Individual & Synchronized
  • 2006- Winter Classics: 3rd Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2006 – Elite Challenge: 1st Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2006– USA National Championships: 1st Place Trampoline Individual & Synchronized
  • 2007 – Winter Classics: 1st Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2008 – Winter Classics: 1st Place Trampoline Individual & Synchronized
  • 2008 – Elite Challenge: 1st Place Trampoline Individual & Synchronized
  • 2008 – USA National Championships: 2nd Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2008 – USA National Championships: 1st Place Trampoline Synchronized
  • 2008 – USA Olympic Trials: 1st Place Trampoline Individual[5]

International competition results
  • 2000 – Poliaroush Challenge, Canada – 3rd Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2000 – Silnitskiy Cup, Belarus – 4th Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2000 – Silnitskiy Cup, Belarus – 3rd Place Trampoline Synchronized
  • 2000 – Silnitskiy Cup, Belarus – 2nd Trampoline Team
  • 2001 – World Age Group Games, Denmark – 1st Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2002 – Canada Cup, Canada – 3rd Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2002 – Grenzland Cup, Germany – 4th Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2002 – Greensboro Open, USA – 1st Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2005 – Slavic Games, Belarus – 2nd Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2006 – Pacific Alliance, Hawaii – 1st Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2006 – World Cup, Belgium – 13th place Trampoline Individual
  • 2006 – Pan-American Championships, Mexico – 2nd Place Trampoline Team
  • 2006 – World Cup, Switzerland – 5th Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2006 – World Cup, Germany – 9th Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2007 - World Cup, USA – 5th Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2007 – World Cup, Canada – 9th Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2008 – Grenzland Cup, Germany – 1st Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2008 – World Cup, Switzerland – 10th Place Trampoline Individual
  • 2008 – World Cup, Switzerland – 1st Place Trampoline Synchronized
  • 2008 – Olympic Games, China- 13th Place Trampoline Individual[5]

References
  1. "Exclusive Interview with Teen Olympic Trampolinist Erin Blanchard".
  2. http://www.teamusa.org/Athletes/BL/Erin-Blanchard.aspx
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2012-08-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "USA Gymnastics | Blanchard places 13th, Estrada 15th in trampoline prelims at 2008 Olympic Games".
  5. http://olympictrampolineacademy.com/Erin_Blanchard.php
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