Ruben Padilla (born January 5, 2001) is an American trampoline gymnast. He has won seven senior national titles across three disciplines (double-mini, trampoline, and syncrhonized trampoline) and two World Championships on double-mini and was named alternate to the 2024 Olympics for men's trampoline.
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| Country represented |  United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | January 5, 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hometown | Oakley, California, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Bluffdale, Utah, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Trampoline gymnastics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level | Senior Elite | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Wasatch Trampoline and Tumbling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coach(es) | Sven Nielsen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former coach(es) | Yoshi Nakayama | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Career
editPadilla became as a senior national team member in 2018 and competed at his first world championships in St. Petersburg, Russia at the 2018 Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships where he won a silver medal in the men's double-mini event.[1]
In 2019, he won a bronze medal in the men's individual event at the 2019 Pan American Games.[2] He then went on to complete a hat trick when he again won the men's double-mini silver medal alongside a silver double-mini team medal, and an all-around team silver medal at the 2019 Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships.[3]
In 2021, he competed in the 2021 Pan American Gymnastics Championships in Brazil and won gold medals in the 17- to 21-year-old age group and the senior-level synchronized (with partner Cody Gesuelli) trampoline competitions and was a member of the first-place U.S. gymnastics team.[4]
He competed in the men's double-mini trampoline event at the 2022 World Games, and finished fourth. Then, at the 2022 Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships, he won a gold medal in men's double-mini, a silver medal in the all-around team, and a bronze medal in the double-mini team event.[5]
Padilla defended his double-mini title at the 2023 Trampoline World Championships in Birmingham, England and once again won gold in individual men's double-mini, alongside a silver medal in synchronized trampoline with partner Aliaksei Shostak, and a double-mini team gold.[6][7][8]
In 2024, he won triple gold at the USAG championships held in Minneapolis, MN, winning men's individual trampoline, men's synchronized trampoline with partner Aliaksei Shostak, and the men's double-mini competition. Additionally, he was named as the alternate to the Olympic Games for men's trampoline.[9]
World Cup results
edit| World Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Place | Medal | Proof | Ref |
| 2024 | Coimbra (Portugal) |  Silver
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Synchronized | [10] |
Personal
editPadilla was born in Oakley, California; his parents are Nelia and Jerry Padilla. He started his gymnastics career at the age of 5 when his mother enrolled him in artistic gymnastics classes in a bid to stop him from jumping on the furniture at home.[4] Since 2017, he has trained at Wasatch Trampoline and Tumbling in Draper, UT, where he also works as a coach.[6]
He was named the 2020 Double -Mini Athlete of the Year by USA Gymnastics and was again honored with that award in 2024.[6][9]
References
edit- ^ Rowbottom, Mike (November 9, 2018). "Historic Japanese win amid successful title defences at FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ Gillen, Nancy (August 6, 2019). "Feeley finally tops rhythmic gymnastics podium after earlier disappointment at Lima 2019". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ Morgan, Liam (November 30, 2019). "Japan sweep team synchronised events at Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- ^ a b Szymanski, Kyle (June 24, 2021). "Former Freedom High student Ruben Padilla stars in Senior Pan American Championships". thepress.net. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ Houston, Michael (November 18, 2022). "Perfect China win women's team title at Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ a b c "PADILLA Ruben - FIG Athlete Profile". www.gymnastics.sport. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "USA cleans up as most successful nation at 2023 Trampoline World Championships". www.gymnastics.sport. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "At last! World titles for Briere-Vetillard, Malkin, Rodriguez — and a second gold for Padilla". www.gymnastics.sport. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ a b Steinke, Matt (June 27, 2024). "Stevens, Shostak earn Olympic berths; titles collected as USA Gymnastics Championships conclude · USA Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics Championships. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "FIG Trampoline World Cup - COIMBRA 2024". FIG Trampoline. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
