Individual, Women

The favorite was the 2000 gold medalist, Irina Karavayeva of Russia, who had won five World Championships, including both the 2005 and 2007 titles. But Karavayeva, despite a very high difficulty tariff of 14.7, placed only fifth. She made some errors in her voluntary elements, including a major error when she landed outside the designated area. The gold medal went to China’s He Wenna, who had placed fourth at the 2007 Worlds. Canada’s Karen Cockburn, 2003 World Champion, won her third consecutive Olympic trampoline medal, duplicating her silver from 2004, added to her 2000 bronze. Defending champion Anna Dogonadze (GER) fell in her final routine, and finished last in the final. All the three medalists performed a forward triple somersault with half twist (He and Cockburn twice), and multiple twisting double somersaults in tucked, piked and straight positions.