Sports
Lichtenstein Wins Gold For Trampoline Performance
Stevenson High School junior James Lichtenstein is one of the country's top performers on both the trampoline and the double mini trampoline.
James Lichtenstein’s “what I did on my summer vacation” might impress some folks at .
This weekend, the Buffalo Grove resident spent a few days north of the border in Calgary, Canada, competing for the USA junior team in the 2011 Canada Cup.
He won the gold medal in his specialty, an event called the double mini trampoline.
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“I was happy with my scores in the preliminaries,” Lichtenstein said. “But in the finals the next day, I had some really good passes.”
That means he hit his routine well.
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The scores went up on the board as 9.5, 9.6, 9.6 and 9.7.
“I ended up winning by 6.9 points,” he said.
In other words, he ran away and hid in this competition.
At Stevenson, Lichtenstein is known as a diver on the swim team. Does anyone know he travels the world competing in these difficult events?
“My friends know,” he said. “And they’ll say, ‘Do a flip, do a flip.’ ”
Watch Lichtenstein in action here
Of course, his career began in the world of gymnastics.
“I was in recreational gymnastics in Buffalo Grove when I was about 5 years old,” he said. “And then I stopped.”
Next, he checked out artistic gymnastics. He took a liking to the trampoline.
“It took me about three years to find out it was a separate sport,” he said.
Trampoline is more than just bouncing up and down.
“I had to get used to a new sport,” he said. “And the different skills you use.”
Lichtenstein admits he likes trampoline better than double mini trampoline, but he realizes his skills are better in double mini.
His journey to Calgary began Thursday.
“It was about a three-hour flight,” he said. “And then I trained at night.”
This trip out of the country didn’t really faze Lichtenstein. His first year with the USA team took him to Russia.
“I went on a couple of tours,” he said.
Next up was France.
“That was the best trip,” he said. “We all roomed together and all had a great time. But we didn’t do any sightseeing.”
All that flipping through the air and landing on mats might be of some concern. Lichtenstein claims he’s been lucky.
“I haven’t really been hurt,” he said. “I had a broken toe and twisted ankle and that’s it.”
The senior division is next up for Lichtenstein. He hopes to keep on twisting through the air.
“I’d like to continue to do this until I’m 30 years old,” he said.
