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Chinese He Wenna wins women's trampoline gold. [Xinhua]
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China's He Wenna won the first Olympic trampoline gold medal for her country before ecstatic home fans here on Monday.
He took the title with a collection of 37.8 points. Karen Cockburn from Canada took the silver in 37.8 points, and the bronze went to Ekaterina Khilko, from Uzbekistan.
He entered the final in first place, after her teammate Huang Shanshan, who won China's first trampoline medal, a bronze, in the Athens Olympics in 2004, failed to make the final.
The 19-year-old, who finished 4th in last year world championships, overcame the pressure piled up on her from home crowd and presented difficult somersaults and twists in the air.
Cockburn, the silver medallist in Athens and bronze medallist in Sydney, realized her goal of a podium finish, with a difficulty score of 14.4 points, 0.1 points lower than He's.
Defending Olympic champion Anna Dogonadze, from Germany, felt on the mat in the middle of her routine and only scored 18.9 points, finishing last among the 8 finals.
"I feel really honored to win this gold medal because I was the first one to get a medal in women's trampoline in the Olympic Games for China", said a all-smile He.
"I think the biggest rival for me is myself. If I can overcome myself, then that is success. My coach told me before the competiton not to be worried about the results," she said.
He said her coach told her to run in a big circle to celebrate. "But I think jumping onto the trampoline net makes more sensel. It's more meaningful," she said.
After finishing her routine as the last performer, He wrapped herself in a Chinese national flag and ran a few steps, before she jumped onto the net to wave the flag, inviting even louder cheers from the crowd.
He said her teammate Huang encouraged her last night. "She (Huang) told me to go for the gold medal," she said.
The 21-year-old Huang failed to advance to the finals after falling during the second of her two routines in qualifications.