Toronto's Burnett wins silver in trampoline

BEIJING–Jason Burnett has won a silver medal in trampoline at the Summer Olympics.

The 21-year-old from Toronto finished second in the eight-man finals to earn Canada's second medal of the day and 11th medal of the Games.

He appeared quite pleased with his show, clapping his hands together as he finally came back to earth following a very difficult routine. He had to wait nervously, however, as the next six jumpers followed.

None were able to match his 40.70 score and you could see the anticipation and excitement building on Burnett’s face. Gold was within his grasp until the final athlete of the night, China’s Lu Chunlong, came up with a closing 41.00 score and another Chinese gold medal for a wildly appreciative Beijing crowd.

Still, Burnett didn’t come to Beijing as a medal favourite, at least not in some eyes. And he seemed more than thrilled at the idea of carting a silver medallion home in his suitcase; or more likely closely held to his body.

Dong Dong of China came third and got the bronze medal with a score of 40.60. Dong appeared stunned by his bronze finish, but Burnett was beaming during the medal ceremony. As he walked towards the dressing area following the ceremony, Burnett looked over towards one of his friends or trainers and raised his arms up as if to say, “How about that?”

Burnett is a student at Seneca College and a member of the Toronto Sky Riders Trampoline Club. Also a member is Karen Cockburn of Toronto, who won a silver medal in women's trampoline Monday and also won medals at both the Sydney and Athens Olympics.

Earlier Tuesday, Kingston-born Simon Whitfield won a silver medal in the men's triathlon.

After winning exactly zero medals over the first seven days of the Games, Canada now has two golds, five silver and four bronze medals at a suddenly successful Summer Olympics. With Montreal diver Alexandre Despatie taking part in the three meter springboard event today, a third Canadian medal for day nine of the Beijing Games is a distinct possibility.

And suddenly the Canadian Olympic Committee’s prediction of 13 to 19 medals for Canada’s athletes doesn’t seem too far-fetched.