Pair keen to reach new heights in Paris

• Published date: 24 April 2024
• Publication title: Otago Daily Times: Web Edition Articles (New Zealand)

Schmidt was yesterday selected in the New Zealand team for the Paris Games

He was joined by Maddie Davidson, who has been named for her second Olympic Games following Tokyo 2021, where she became the first woman to compete in trampoline for New Zealand at that level.

Paris will be the third Olympic Games for 27-year-old Schmidt, who was crowned world champion in 2022.

"It's crazy that it's my third Olympics — it's flown by," Schmidt said.

"To go to my third Games and have the chance to do something special is pretty amazing and I really love being part of the wider New Zealand team."

Schmidt said he was feeling in good form, having recently finished in fourth place at the Cottbus round of the world cup in Germany.

"Performing at my peak should get me right up top in Paris.

"If I can do that, it puts me in the mix for the podium and even the top spot.

"Ultimately, I'm there to be happy with my performance and if I'm happy I'll be in the mix. I really just want to enjoy it, have fun and put out a performance I'm proud of."

The Auckland-based athlete executed a brilliant routine for a score of 60.720...