Bryony Page has made it her intention to run away to the circus with Olympic gold.
A two-time medallist at the past two Olympics – with silver and bronze – she sealed a first Olympic trampoline title for Team GB at the third time of asking.
The 33-year-old had comfortably the most difficult routine of the eight-women final and, despite veering slightly off course in the latter stages of her routine, her score of 56.480 was well clear of her nearest rival.
It denied a first medal for a Belarusian athlete at these Games, neutral athlete Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya nearly half a point behind in second with Sophiane Methot taking the bronze for Canada.
Page, who had only been fifth in qualifying but increased the complexity of her routine come the final, plans to mark her Olympic gold by taking time out of the sport to join Cirque du Soleil before returning, if the body allows, for the Los Angeles Olympics in four years’ time.
Of the circus possibility, she said: “If they still want me, I would love to perform. It’s been a dream of mine for a long time and I’m not getting any younger, so to get to do that while I’m still feeling strong and healthy would be great.”
She was the most experienced competitor in the field, the sole survivor from the final in Rio de Janeiro eight years ago and only one of two still remaining for those who contested the medals in Tokyo at the last Games.
As both world and European champion, she was the pre-event favourite, and the former biology student, who wrote her dissertation on the noises that dinosaurs make, lived up to that billing come the final.
