Dylan Schmidt

As New Zealand’s most successful trampolinist, Dylan Schmidt has broken new ground for his sport and inspired a generation of Kiwi gymnasts.

He made history in Rio in 2016 as the first New Zealander to compete in Olympic trampolining, before going on to claim the nation’s first Olympic gymnastics medal with a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. His success continued in 2022, when he won New Zealand’s first trampoline world
title at the World Championships in Bulgaria – cementing his place among the
best in the world. He also represented New Zealand at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

“Qualifying for the 2016 Olympics and becoming the first New Zealander to go to the Olympics for trampolining was a big moment for me,” recalls Dylan. “That was a big taste of achieving goals I had set and laid the foundation for other goals I wanted to pursue.”

Having begun trampolining at the age of five, a love of sport has always been a family affair for Dylan. His brother and sister are also top trampolinists, and he remembers his mum driving the siblings daily from Waihi to Auckland for training – a sacrifice he remains deeply thankful for.

“Mum always put others before herself and always went above and beyond to make sure I had everything I needed to chase my dream. My dad also sacrificed a lot and worked extremely hard to allow me and my siblings to compete all around the world.”

Alongside his sporting career, Dylan studied at the University of Auckland, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in information systems and commercial law. Juggling an intense training schedule with his studies was never easy, but he says the University was “very understanding” of his situation.

“I found the people I dealt with on a day-to-day basis were there for my best interests, which set me up for success,” he says, admitting that combining the demands of a sporting career with personal commitments has never been straightforward.

“The biggest challenge would be finding the right balance between sport and life. That’s always difficult and is always changing, but the better you get at it I find the better both areas thrive.”

Now 28, Dylan acknowledges the trade-offs of being a more experienced athlete.

“I have the experience and knowledge of all the things that I have gone through, but I am not as young as I used to be athletically – so it’s the old ‘work smarter not harder’,” he says. “I want to continue pushing the boundaries and keep up with the next generation of my sport.”

Beyond competition, Dylan is committed to inspiring young people. As an Olympic Ambassador he regularly visits schools across the country, telling his story and encouraging children to stay active and live a healthy lifestyle.

“The most rewarding thing about what I do is giving back to the community,” he says. “It’s especially surreal having school kids be so stoked to meet me or do a back flip.”

He is also an ambassador for several charities, including Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand, and is a keen hunter and fisherman who enjoys connecting with the outdoors.

Looking ahead, Dylan is preparing for life after elite sport, while remaining dedicated to competition for now.

“Ultimately I am still training and competing full-time, while also chipping away at a career outside of training.”