Big Interview: Bryony Page turned her fears into cheers

Page was absolutely determined to get to the Rio Games in 2016 after missing out on London 2012.

But, for a while, her obsession turned unhealthy.

“I definitely didn’t want to feel that disappointment again,” said Page.

“I wanted to feel that pride and be able to share it with so many people.

“I had both a negative motivator and a positive one.

“Having both of those very powerful motivators, that drove me on leading up to Rio.

“It actually became a weakness at one point as I was so consumed by that fear of not making it.

“I had that fear of never reaching my potential.”

Page, though, was able to take a step back and channel her emotion in the right manner.

So much so, she went on to grab silver with a sublime routine.

“I realised the Olympics was one goal but I was on a journey, doing a sport I love so much,” she said.

“I focused on that, focused on working on myself and seeing how I far I could get – not just focusing on one competition.

“I think that mindset, that change, really helped me.

“I realised who I was as a person wouldn’t be defined by one sporting event. It was about how I trained, daily life. That fear then left me.

“I wasn’t scared of not making it anymore. I just had the desire to do it.”

Page achieved a score of 56.040 in Brazil. Gold-winner Rosie MacLennan, from Canada, got 56.045.

MacLennan’s triumph was not all that surprising as she was the reigning Olympic champion, but Page’s was a shock.

Nobody really predicted her ending up on the podium and being a pioneer for trampolining on these shores.

The Rio Olympics was the stuff of dreams – not just for Page, but for the whole of Team GB.

They came away with 67 medals – 27 gold, 23 silver, 17 bronze – to finish as the second-best nation at the event, behind the USA who grabbed 121.

Page, who was recently at Air Space in Wolverhampton to try to inspire youngsters to follow in her footsteps, insists the whole experience was incredible, truly something she will never forget.

“It’s been two years and still things get to me,” she said.

“I’ve made a little video that goes through my time in Rio and watching back my routine, I’ve watched it so many times I’m a little numb to it now.

“It’s almost like watching someone else but the thing that got me was watching the other sports – the hockey, gymnastics.

“Little things get to me and the whole experience was incredible.

“That in itself, not just the medal, made it for me – knowing I was going to be on the podium and seeing my parents afterwards.”

Going back to why she was not involved in London, Page puts it down to a variety of factors.

She was hampered by an ankle problem, which flared up again after Rio, at that time.

The 27-year-old insists, mentally, she was not ready too.

“It was a combination of things. It was the same ankle problem, which I’ve fixed now,” said Page.

“I didn’t quite manage it right. I had a lack of training and illness before one of the trials.

“Mentally, I just wasn’t strong enough to deal with that, to have those setbacks.

“In the lead up to Rio, I still had those setbacks but I was mentally stronger.

“I think that was the biggest difference, the change in my mental approach and the sports psychology.

“It was gutting to miss London but, at the same time, I was able to experience it in a different way.

“We watched the sports and went behind the scenes.

“I learnt a lot from that whole process and I wouldn’t change it.”

Now, Page, whose love for trampolining started in her back garden as a youngster, is firmly focused on the British Championships, taking place next Saturday and Sunday in Birmingham.

It is a qualification event for the World Championships, which are happening in Russia in November.

Page, from Sheffield, has only competed a handful of times since Rio due to injury.

Because of that, she is still ‘finding her feet’.

Page did clinch bronze at her last event – July’s World Cup in Switzerland – though, scoring 55.120, and team-mate Kat Driscoll scored 54.930 to finish fourth.

“I’ve had one domestic competition and two World Cups since Rio but this is my first big, major qualification event,” she said.

“It’s my first British Championships since Rio so I’m really looking forward to it.

“I missed last year’s but I was watching it, commentating and stuff like that – an audience member.

“I was raring to go on the trampolines so being a competitor again this year, that’s definitely where I prefer to be – I’m super excited.

“It’ll only be my fourth competition back so I’m still building that momentum, still progressing.

“I’m still not where I want to be exactly. I know I’m on my way and can get there – it’s just finding my feet and getting used to it.

“It’s to make the world championships so it’s a big event. We all want to do our best. Everybody wants to become British champion.”

And while the aim, of course, is to be successful and qualify for the World Championships – and then go on to represent Team GB at the Tokyo 202 Olympics – a big priority of hers is just to enjoy it.

Being 27, she realises that a sizeable chunk of her career has been and gone.

“I just want to get out there and enjoy it because I’m not going to be able to do trampolining forever,” added Page.

“I’ve already missed out on two years of competition so every competition now just feels like a bonus.

“Hopefully I can come out of it with a medal and a place in the World Championships team.”

The 2018 Trampoline, Tumbling & DMT British Championships take place at Arena Birmingham next weekend. Tickets are available from www.theticketfactory.com