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.

Ruben Padilla
Personal information
Country represented United States
Born (2001-01-05) January 5, 2001 (age 23)
HometownOakley, California
ResidenceBluffdale, Utah
Height5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
DisciplineTrampoline gymnastics
LevelSenior Elite
ClubWasatch Trampoline and Tumbling
Head coach(es)Sven Nielsen
Former coach(es)Yoshi Nakayama
Medal record
Men's trampoline gymnastics
Representing  United States
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Sofia Double Mini
Gold medal – first place 2023 Birmingham Double Mini
Gold medal – first place 2023 Birmingham Double Mini Team
Gold medal – first place 2023 Birmingham All-around Team
Silver medal – second place 2018 Saint Petersburg Double Mini
Silver medal – second place 2019 Tokyo Double Mini
Silver medal – second place 2019 Tokyo Double Mini Team
Silver medal – second place 2019 Tokyo All-around Team
Silver medal – second place 2021 Baku All-around Team
Silver medal – second place 2022 Sofia All-around Team
Silver medal – second place 2023 Birmingham Synchro
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Baku Double Mini
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Sofia Double Mini Team
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2023 Santiago Synchro
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Lima Individual
Junior Pan American Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Cochabamba Individual

Career

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Padilla 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

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World Cup
Year Place Medal Proof Ref
2024 Coimbra (Portugal)   Silver Synchronized [10]

Personal

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Padilla 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

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  1. ^ Rowbottom, Mike (November 9, 2018). "Historic Japanese win amid successful title defences at FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  2. ^ Gillen, Nancy (August 6, 2019). "Feeley finally tops rhythmic gymnastics podium after earlier disappointment at Lima 2019". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  3. ^ Morgan, Liam (November 30, 2019). "Japan sweep team synchronised events at Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Houston, Michael (November 18, 2022). "Perfect China win women's team title at Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "PADILLA Ruben - FIG Athlete Profile". www.gymnastics.sport. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  7. ^ "USA cleans up as most successful nation at 2023 Trampoline World Championships". www.gymnastics.sport. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  8. ^ "At last! World titles for Briere-Vetillard, Malkin, Rodriguez — and a second gold for Padilla". www.gymnastics.sport. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "FIG Trampoline World Cup - COIMBRA 2024". FIG Trampoline. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
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