Page wins Team GB's first trampoline gold

A stunned Bryony Page won Great Britain's first trampoline Olympic gold to complete her set of a medal of every colour.

The 33-year-old, who took silver at Rio 2016 for GB's first Olympic trampoline medal, followed up with bronze at Tokyo 2020 before securing the ultimate prize in Paris with 56.480 points.

Two-time individual world champion Page had her head in her hands and looked in disbelief at Bercy Arena when her score beat Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya, who took silver, with Canada's Sophiane Methot in bronze.

Page later admitted she had forgotten there was still one more gymnast to compete and had been a little premature with thoughts of gold when she saw she was top of the scoreboard - but it was soon time to celebrate for real.

"It sounds amazing," Page said, when asked what it was like to now have the full set of medals.

"I had quite a difficult build-up, anticipating this competition for a long time."

She had been struggling with an ankle injury and said she had a twinge in her neck during podium training on Thursday.

Bardzilouskaya's silver was the first medal won at the Paris Games by a member of the Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) team, set up for approved Russian and Belarusian athletes after their countries were banned because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

After qualifying for the eight-woman final with the fifth-best score, Page was the penultimate gymnast to compete - and her victory was confirmed when Hu Yicheng of China bounced off the trampoline early in her routine.

Page, who has said she dreams of joining the circus when she retires, flew high and entertained the audience with a routine packed with a high level of difficulty that she executed with style, staying close to the centre of the trampoline throughout.

China's defending champion Zhu Xueying came fourth.

In the men's event, Zak Perzamanos made history with Great Britain's highest ever finish in the men's trampoline competition by finishing fourth on his Olympic debut.

Neutral athlete Ivan Litvinovich successfully defended his title to become the first gymnast to win multiple Olympic gold medals in the sport.

Silver went to China's Wang Zisai, whose compatriot Yan Langyu took bronze.

Page shocked by achievement - again

The look of shock that swept across Page's face was similar to the one she wore at Rio 2016 when she won her first Olympic medal.

On that occasion it was because she had achieved a British first - but this time it was because she forgot there was another gymnast to go and thought she had won gold earlier than she did.

"When I saw the score come up, I forgot I wasn't the last person," she laughed.

"So in that moment I knew I had won an Olympic medal and at the time I thought it was gold.

"So I was reacting to a really happy score and a really happy routine - at least if I didn't become Olympic champion, I knew what it was going to feel like!"

The backdrop to every stunned reaction, though, is an injury-hit career and struggles with the sort of 'twisties' that artistic gymnast Simone Biles so famously went through at Tokyo 2020.

Back in 2008, Page experienced a similar mental block where she "got lost in a skill", triggered by what she said was a lack of confidence in her ability.

It could have ended a career but Page said her stubbornness had helped her relearn all her skills, starting from the very basics.

"It sometimes crops up a little bit," she said of the mental block.

"[There is an] element of injury risk in trampolining and [you have to] try to overcome that fear level because trampoline is exciting, it's thrilling but with that comes a bit of bravery and fear."

Gymnasts can soar eight to 10 metres into the air while completing their 10 skills - about the height of two double-decker buses.

"It was a really tough time not being able to do the skills I wanted to because my mental block was stopping me," she added.

"But I kept going because I love the sport and wanted to get back to the standard I was at and with no regrets."

Page has often spoken of her dream to join Cirque du Soleil and, even after winning gold, that is still on her mind - although not just yet.

"My plan is to continue [trampolining]," she said. "I love trampolining and I love trying new skills and I've still got a few more achievements that I want to achieve personally - new skills as well as some other competitions."

Those competitions include next year's synchronised trampoline at the World Games with British team-mate Isabelle Songhurst, who did not make it through qualifying here on Friday when she came 14th.

"Then after that, maybe Cirque du Soleil if they still want to have me as an older athlete. We'll see," Page added.

"Then I might try and make a comeback for [the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics] after Cirque."

Bardzilouskaya's silver will not be in medal table

This medal ceremony was the first one at which the teal-coloured AIN flag was raised.

Bardzilouskaya, 19, is one of 17 Belarusian athletes competing as AINs in Paris as the country is banned from the Games because of its support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

They are competing without the country’s flags or anthems and had to meet strict eligibility criteria to be invited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IOC will not be including medals won by AINs in its medal tables, so Bardzilouskaya's only official record of her victory will be the silver medal around her neck.

When asked what it had been like training over the past couple of years amid uncertainty over her participation, she replied: "I had very mixed feelings because it was unclear what chances I would have to compete at the Games."

Just 17 of 24 Belarusians invited to the Games, and 15 of 36 Russian athletes, have agreed to compete in Paris.