Dylan Schmidt is a former junior world champion. He has the potential to become an Olympic champion.
Trampolining became an Olympic sport in Sydney in 2000 and Schmidt is the first New Zealander with the potential to reach the Olympic podium.
He is ranked in the top 16 in the world but was too young to qualify for the London Olympics.
Schmidt (15), a year 11 pupil at King's College in Auckland, followed his siblings into the sport at the age of 6 and won his fifth New Zealand senior men's title at the Lion Foundation Arena in Dunedin yesterday.
He won the world 13 and under title in Russia in 2009 at the age of 12 and, last year, finished runner-up to the Russian champion in the 15 and under event in Birmingham.
The world title was special.
"It felt unreal. It didn't sink in until I reached the podium and got the medal," Schmidt said.
He competed at last year's world championships with three broken toes.
"I broke two when I fell out of bed," he said. "The other one broke when a friend pushed me."
When his toes had mended, Schmidt beat his Russian opponent at the Pacific Rim championships in Washington State this year.
Schmidt demonstrated his class at the Edgar Centre yesterday when he convincingly retained his national title.
He showed a touch of class as he executed his compulsory three somersaults and three twists during his 25-second routine.
"It's always different. It's hard to get up there on the mat and do the routine the same all the time," he said. "It's always unpredictable."
Schmidt can bounce up to 10m, as high as two double-decker buses, but remains undaunted.
"I've done it so many times. It is second nature now," Schmidt said.
"I've done it for so long that I don't get scared of falling off."
He is coached by Angie and Justin Dougal, who are former world champions on the double mini.
Schmidt is dedicated to his sport and trains two hours a day for six days each week.
Next week he will contest the Indo-Pacific championships in Sydney, and in January will represent New Zealand at the Australian Youth Olympics in Sydney.
The world championships are in Bulgaria next year and his longer-term goals are to compete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016 and be at the top of the podium at the 2020 Olympic Games.
His sister, Rachel (17), retained her senior women's title yesterday.
The New Zealand Gymsports championships continue at the Lion Foundation Arena at the Edgar Centre today and finish on Saturday.
