Rosie MacLennan

Working around her athletic training, competition and school schedule, Rosie’s part-time role as a Canadian Tire Jumpstart Ambassador will draw on her experiences, from the playground to the podium, to help raise awareness and funds necessary for children in need to participate in sports and recreational activities across Canada.

“Rosie has been extremely successful in the sports world and it is an honour to help launch her successful career in the corporate world,” said Doug Nathanson, Senior Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited. “Canadian Tire has long been committed to building the state of sport in Canada and given our shared belief in the power of sport, Rosie being part of our team is a natural fit.”

“I am so excited to be joining the Canadian Tire Family of Companies.  My new role helps me develop and share my love of sport in an entirely new way,” said 25 year-old Rosie MacLennan. “Joining Canadian Tire gives me the opportunity to be part of a different kind of team than I am used to and I look forward to jumping in and rising to the challenge.”

 About Rosie MacLennan

Born August 28th, 1988 in King, ON, Rosannagh (Rosie) MacLennan is the reigning World Trampoline champion and Canada’s only gold medallist at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Rosie is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in exercise science at the University of Toronto. As the youngest of four, Rosie grew up in an active, sports-oriented family in Richmond Hill, Ontario.  Even off the trampoline, she remains active through some of her favourite sports like skiing, snowboarding, wakeboarding or dancing.

At age 11, Rosie began competing internationally and was the Canadian National Women’s Champion in 2005, 2009 and 2011.

At the 2007 World Championships in Quebec City, Rosie earned a spot for Canada at the Beijing Olympics.  At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rosie qualified for the finals and finished in 7th place.

In 2011, Rosie won a gold medal at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, a second place finish at the 2011 Trampoline World Championships in Birmingham and first place at the Olympic test event.

At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Rosie received a score of 57.305 for her final routine. With her score, she reached a new personal best and earned Canada’s first and only gold medal at the Games and Canada’s first trampoline gold medal ever.

In November 2013 MacLennan won the gold medal at the World Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria.  Then in May 2014, MacLennan won the Canadian National Championship in Ottawa.

Rosie MacLennan can do the most difficult routine in the world of women’s trampoline.  Bouncing 18 feet in the air is always a risky endeavour, and just last month she over-rotated on a jump and suffered a concussion.

“Until earlier this week it was still a question mark if I would be able to compete or not,” MacLennan said referring to the 2015 Pan Am Games “I’m so happy I was able to.”

Not only did she make it to the trampoline final at the Pan Am Games before a packed house, she won the gold medal — by leaps and flips.

“You know the country has your back and there are a lot of people supporting you, but feeling that energy in the room, you really can’t match that,” MacLennan said.

MacLennan, who sports scientists refer to as a human spring for her ability to transfer muscular energy into bouncing power on a trampoline, had hoped to showcase her top routine of three triples, the most difficult in the women’s international field. But the 28-year-old from King City, Ont., opted not to do it because the concussion set back her training.

“I wanted to stick with a routine that I was comfortable and confident in,” she said.

Without confidence comes shakiness: “That’s not what you want jumping 18 feet in the air.”

But even when she’s healthy, deciding to use her three-triple routine — she took silver at the last world championships with it — is risky. There are easier ways to win given the scoring system that values height and perfect form over difficulty. But MacLennan knows the sport will keep evolving and, though no other women are currently doing three triples (most do two at the elite level), her strongest competitors, the Chinese, may have them by Rio.

Coach Dave Ross says Rosie wants to be in the forefront of the sport rather than playing catch-up.

With another gold around her neck, what could Rosie’s plan be now?

“Get those three triples,” Rosie said.

We know we certainly can’t wait for Rosie to spring into action with those triples at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.

 Join Rosie for a live Q&A on Periscope hosted by Canadian Tire

Canadian Tire (@CanadianTire) will be hosting a live Q&A with Rosie (@RosieMacLennan) on Periscope Wednesday August 5th at 6:45pm ET as a warm up to the 8pm #WannaPlayChat #RoadToRio twitter party!

Be sure to follow @CanadianTire and @RosieMacLennan on Twitter and set your periscope notifications ON to be reminded when the broadcast is Live!  Then join us for the #WannaPlayChat #RoadToRio Twitter party for your chance to win one of $1,000 in prizes available to be won!

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