Jessica Stevens, Aliaksei Shostak selected to represent Team USA in trampoline at Paris 2024
USA Gymnastics has named its two trampoline athletes for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games: Jessica Stevens and Aliaksei Shostak.
The duo were named at the conclusion of the USA Gymnastics Championships, the final of three U.S. selection events, on Wednesday. The traveling alternates for the team are Nicole Ahsinger (women) and Ruben Padilla (men).
Both Stevens and Shostak locked their spots with their performances during qualifying despite there being multiple contenders heading into championships.
Stevens beat out two-time Olympian Ahsinger, who finished sixth in Tokyo three years ago – tied for the best finish ever by a U.S. woman in trampoline.
Last fall, Stevens won bronze at the world championships, becoming the first American medalist in the event in 49 years (1974) and earning an Olympic quota spot for the U.S. women in the process. She shared that podium with Bryony Page (GBR) and Zhu Xueying (CHN) – both of whom are expected to contend for medals in Paris.
Stevens is the reigning Pan American Games champion in individual trampoline and synchro.
Shostak is heading for his second Games after edging his synchro partner, Padilla, for the spot.
The now-29-year-old finished 13th in Tokyo and didn’t advance to the men’s final after a scary fall in qualifying.
Shostak was also the one to earn the U.S. men a quota spot just two months ago at the Cottbus World Cup. He is the reigning World synchro silver medalist and Pan American Games synchro champion (both with Padilla).
After Tokyo, Shostak was candid about his disappointment in his performance and the ensuing motivation, sharing on Instagram, “I believe I put too much pressure onto myself. I couldn’t fully enjoy the experience and be in the moment, and this is something I will do better next time. Failure is important though. Failure teaches us lessons. Failure teaches us to learn from our mistakes. This way we can move forward towards the outcome that we desire. We can go for it with a fresh and new perspective. And with that being said, I will continue training. I will compete in Paris at 2024 Games. I will succeed. Upwards & Onwards.”
The Olympic trampoline competition will take place on August 2 at Paris’ Bercy Arena, with both qualifying and finals happening the same day. For the full Olympic gymnastics schedule, click here.
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