July 29, 2024 • 10 mins
Dylan Schmidt, the first Kiwi to win an Olympic medal in gymnastics, is gearing up for his next round in Paris.
He joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Dylan Schmidt made his Olympic debut at Rio twenty sixteen,
becoming the first ever ki we to compete in trampoline
at the Olympic Games, finishing seventh. Three years ago, he
won our first ever Olympics gymnastics medal bronze in Tokyo.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
And he's stylish to start now, he'll need to gain
some hype getting himself ready for.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
His last jump, and it's a very good routine. Well done,
Dylan SCHMIDTZ I'll I'll be cheering for him back home
in Auckland and til now. And a sixty points six
seven five, he's into second spot.
Speaker 5 (00:49):
That's who.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Okay, Litvinovich has done it for Belarus. They've through different
men one consecutive gold medals, Dong Gong second and Dylan
Schmidt of New Zealand. For what a competition.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
And what a performance from Dylan Schmidt three years ago
in Tokyo. Back for a third Olympics, he joins us
now live from Paris. Dylan, thanks for taking the time
first of all, mat three time Olympian, that's pretty cool.
Isn't it.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
Yeah, it's not bad. It's yeah, it's pretty exciting.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
It's nice to be in the village and actually have
a bit more freedom than three years ago. Yeah, this
village is pretty awesome and yeah, enjoying it. Enjoying it
so far.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
I want to ask you about Tokyo in a moment,
but how you're feeling a few days out from your
competition in Paris.
Speaker 5 (01:36):
Yeah, it feel good.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Yepp's been great. The champs over here are really nice,
and yeah, it's a good vibe. And I've been enjoying
training and things are going well. So I'm just ticking over.
I got a day off today and then a few
more days of training and then we're into it.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
So as you approach, you know, the final few days
ahead of such a pinnacle event like this, I mean
you hear about tapering off or you know, what does
your final few days of preparation look like?
Speaker 3 (02:03):
To be honest, it's just kind of getting on the tram,
getting the body move and you're trying to feel press
and stuff. I wouldn't particularly call it training. All the
training's done. I just get up, you know, sort of
roll through the motions and sort of go through the
skills that I'm going to be doing. Maybe bang out
a couple of routines and stuff like that, and just
get the feel for things that maybe aren't quite clicking
and just try and get those little things to click.
(02:24):
And yeah, really just kind of enjoy the trainings. And
you know, my bodies and great shapes. The training is
feeling like relatively easy, which is which is always nice.
And just really enjoy it and just take my time
and yeah, just kind of take it easy, really good stuff.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Your event's Friday night, Friday night, your time Saturday morning
over here for us to tune in and take it
all in. Can you tell us still on about the
format what lies ahead of you on on Friday night
over there?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Yeah, she's all it's a bit different to normal, and
it all it's all over pretty quick.
Speaker 5 (02:56):
My event starts at six and it's over at eight thirty.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
That includes the final six pm over here, eight thirty
pm finish. So basically there's sixteen of us split into
two flights, and yeah, the first flight will march out
do their routine, then we'll march out to our routine.
We do get two chances now to get into the final,
so we'll hopefully I'll only do one run routine to
(03:18):
stay fresh, and that routine should be good enough to
make the final. And then basically it's just like straight
final march out. People who don't who don't qualify, leave
and we stay and do another routine and that's all.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
That's all.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
That's that's all, it's all all that happens. So it's yeah,
it's pretty pretty small and pretty pretty quick, unusual really
for us. But I've done it twice now obviously, so
I know what it's all about.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
So it's a voluntary routine. There's no compulsory routine that
you do. You just put in a voluntary routine as
you've outlined, You get hopefully only one. You do do
it once, do it well, you're into the final. But
it's just the voluntary routine.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Yep, that's correct. So that's different from in Tokyo. So
in Tokyo, yep, we had to do a set like
voluntary compulsory routine that was like an easy routine and
then that got added onto our voluntary score. But the
cycle they've changed the rule so there's no more compulsory
for seniors anymore. We just do a voluntary usually it's
best your best two to get into semi finals, and
(04:13):
then you've got one chance in semi finals to get
into finals, and then finals one chance again.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
But because there's only sixteen.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Us, this will be the first competition where like any
of us would have had, you know, two chances to
get into the final. So it's likely going to be
that to get into the final, the score is going
to be a little bit bigger because you know you've
got two chances.
Speaker 5 (04:31):
But you know, we'll see that's it should be. Should
be interesting, but I'm definitely ready for it.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Good on you, mate, well as I understand it. So
the score is a combination of difficulty, execution and time
of flight. Is that still the case.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Then there's one more element as well, which is basically
a horizontal displacement. So if you land on the cross
you get zero Marx off and sort of every sort
of box you leave from the cross you start to
get deductions. So there's that that's the only other extra
part of the score that that's out of them as well?
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Are you as you gain more experience, I mean, you've
been doing this for a while now. As I say,
third third Olympic Games, are you finding yourself trying more things,
trying different things, or are you just trying to do
the same things better.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
I mean, you're always trying to do the same things better.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
But you know, this games, I'm doing a pretty difficult routine.
I sort of have to if I want to be,
you know, up there with it with those guys. So yeah,
definitely a little bit different to last games. I'm putting out,
you know, my third skill and this routine is what
I started my routine with in Tokyo, so I'll definitely
steping that aspect up. But yeah, obviously trying to maintain
(05:40):
my height, trying to maintain my execution and stuff as well.
So yeah, I mean, for me, this this competition is yes,
basically go hard or go home. Like I'm just giving
it everything, you know, obviously do my best, and the routinees,
you know, feeling good.
Speaker 5 (05:53):
So I'm definitely ready.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
But you know, it's almost like at this point and
sort of where where the sport's at is, you've got
to sort of take a few risks if you want
the rewards, which for me is quite exciting. You know,
I'm really really excited that, you know, I actually have
to have to push myself a bit more than just
kind of staying in my comfort zone.
Speaker 5 (06:11):
I guess so good.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
So the difficulty part of it, the difficulty part of
the score is where you can really boost your score.
Is is that a fair assessment?
Speaker 5 (06:21):
Yeah, difficulty and time of flight are the two big ones.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
So you've been working on that pretty hard either last
little while you.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Were world champion in twenty twenty two. How much confidence
does that give you that you can get on the
top of the podium here.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Yeah, I'm hugely I know I can perform when it
counts and under pressure, and you know, that's just basically
what I have to go out and do this Friday
is just you know, handle the pressure better than anyone
else and do my routine like I know I can
and if I do that, then you know I'm in
with a shot. So yeah, I mean, as I said earlier,
like it's just exciting to be in that position. I'm
(06:57):
just I'm really ready to go and then looking forward
to it.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
How strange your games was Tokyo?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Yeah, she was pretty she was pretty different. Yeah, it
was like kind of felt very much like a business trip.
Just fly in, stick to yourself and try out to
get COVID and then then hit out.
Speaker 5 (07:17):
Do you do your camp and then leave?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Obviously, you know, even if you went sick, if you
tested positive, actually games over, so it was pretty pretty stressful.
But you know, it was it was, it was, it
was fine, like it was. It was easy to easy
to focus and dial in. Obviously there's a lot more
distractions around, like when Games is like this, But you know,
I'm kind of I'm pretty locked in and feeling feeling
(07:39):
like fairly similar leading to to Tokyo. You keep it
to myself and enjoying it and enjoying the social aspect
of it a bit more. But you know, when I'm
at training, it's yeah, it's all. It's all just you
know what and what I know I need to do.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Yeah, I guess in Tokyo as well, when you looked
up into the stands as you would normally at a competition,
I guess to see people look for familiar faces, there
wouldn't have been any there because I guess no one
could travel, could they during COVID. Have you got a
support crub in the stands this time?
Speaker 5 (08:05):
Yeah? I got awesome support.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
So mom and Dad get in today and then I've
got like five or six mates that are going to
be watching as well from school and other areas of
my life. So yep, yeah, it's going to be great.
I'm looking forward to it. Having a crowd is going
to be amazing. It's always fun, so yeah, that's that
should definitely bring a bit more excitement to the to
the arena, not fake, fake crowd noises from the speakers.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
You know, exactly exactly, just to furnish. Mate, when you're
standing there just about to start, what are the final
few things that go through your mind? Or do you
just try and clear your mind as you're about to
start a routine.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Yeah, for the most part, it's just you know, try
and clear the mind, and you know, just tell myself
basically that it's it's just just a sport, right, like,
whatever happens, just enjoy it, have fun, embrace the moment,
and just be happy with whatever happens, because you know,
all the work that I've put in is there, and
(09:04):
you know, if it's meant to be, it's meant to be,
it's not, it's all good.
Speaker 5 (09:07):
I'll go home and still have a pretty awesome life.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
So just really like kind of like stay grounded, stay
put everything into perspective and you know, kind of just
take that weight off your shoulders a little bit before
you go let yourself free. And then generally that's where
my best performance has come as when I'm really free
of free of outcome and free of emotion and just
going out there and just having fun and enjoying it.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Absolutely love it, mate. We can't wait to watch over
the side of the world Saturday morning as we as
we get ready for our weekends. If I know you're
only focused on this, are we chatting again in four
in four years when you're a four time olympian, are.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
We you mate? Definitely?
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Hey, beauty, good on you mate. Thanks thanks for checking
in all the best for the for the final bit
to your preparation, Dylan, Thanks for taking.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
The time, mate, No, thanks a lot.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Dylan Schmidt, our first ever gymnastics medalist at Olympic level
bronze and Tokyo three years ago. Sounds like a fairly
relaxed character. He's been there and done that. It'll be
be one worth watching. Absolutely a medal chance, absolutely without doubt,
a medal chance for us. He's one one already. You'd
(10:14):
have to think that he's got another opportunity when the
trampolining rolls around on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Dylan Schmidt made his Olympic debut at Rio twenty sixteen,
becoming the first ever ki we to compete in trampoline
at the Olympic Games, finishing seventh. Three years ago, he
won our first ever Olympics gymnastics medal bronze in Tokyo.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
And he's stylish to start now, he'll need to gain
some hype getting himself ready for.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
His last jump, and it's a very good routine. Well done,
Dylan SCHMIDTZ I'll I'll be cheering for him back home
in Auckland and til now. And a sixty points six
seven five, he's into second spot.
Speaker 5 (00:49):
That's who.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Okay, Litvinovich has done it for Belarus. They've through different
men one consecutive gold medals, Dong Gong second and Dylan
Schmidt of New Zealand. For what a competition.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
And what a performance from Dylan Schmidt three years ago
in Tokyo. Back for a third Olympics, he joins us
now live from Paris. Dylan, thanks for taking the time
first of all, mat three time Olympian, that's pretty cool.
Isn't it.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
Yeah, it's not bad. It's yeah, it's pretty exciting.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
It's nice to be in the village and actually have
a bit more freedom than three years ago. Yeah, this
village is pretty awesome and yeah, enjoying it. Enjoying it
so far.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
I want to ask you about Tokyo in a moment,
but how you're feeling a few days out from your
competition in Paris.
Speaker 5 (01:36):
Yeah, it feel good.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Yepp's been great. The champs over here are really nice,
and yeah, it's a good vibe. And I've been enjoying
training and things are going well. So I'm just ticking over.
I got a day off today and then a few
more days of training and then we're into it.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
So as you approach, you know, the final few days
ahead of such a pinnacle event like this, I mean
you hear about tapering off or you know, what does
your final few days of preparation look like?
Speaker 3 (02:03):
To be honest, it's just kind of getting on the tram,
getting the body move and you're trying to feel press
and stuff. I wouldn't particularly call it training. All the
training's done. I just get up, you know, sort of
roll through the motions and sort of go through the
skills that I'm going to be doing. Maybe bang out
a couple of routines and stuff like that, and just
get the feel for things that maybe aren't quite clicking
and just try and get those little things to click.
(02:24):
And yeah, really just kind of enjoy the trainings. And
you know, my bodies and great shapes. The training is
feeling like relatively easy, which is which is always nice.
And just really enjoy it and just take my time
and yeah, just kind of take it easy, really good stuff.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Your event's Friday night, Friday night, your time Saturday morning
over here for us to tune in and take it
all in. Can you tell us still on about the
format what lies ahead of you on on Friday night
over there?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Yeah, she's all it's a bit different to normal, and
it all it's all over pretty quick.
Speaker 5 (02:56):
My event starts at six and it's over at eight thirty.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
That includes the final six pm over here, eight thirty
pm finish. So basically there's sixteen of us split into
two flights, and yeah, the first flight will march out
do their routine, then we'll march out to our routine.
We do get two chances now to get into the final,
so we'll hopefully I'll only do one run routine to
(03:18):
stay fresh, and that routine should be good enough to
make the final. And then basically it's just like straight
final march out. People who don't who don't qualify, leave
and we stay and do another routine and that's all.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
That's all.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
That's that's all, it's all all that happens. So it's yeah,
it's pretty pretty small and pretty pretty quick, unusual really
for us. But I've done it twice now obviously, so
I know what it's all about.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
So it's a voluntary routine. There's no compulsory routine that
you do. You just put in a voluntary routine as
you've outlined, You get hopefully only one. You do do
it once, do it well, you're into the final. But
it's just the voluntary routine.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Yep, that's correct. So that's different from in Tokyo. So
in Tokyo, yep, we had to do a set like
voluntary compulsory routine that was like an easy routine and
then that got added onto our voluntary score. But the
cycle they've changed the rule so there's no more compulsory
for seniors anymore. We just do a voluntary usually it's
best your best two to get into semi finals, and
(04:13):
then you've got one chance in semi finals to get
into finals, and then finals one chance again.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
But because there's only sixteen.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Us, this will be the first competition where like any
of us would have had, you know, two chances to
get into the final. So it's likely going to be
that to get into the final, the score is going
to be a little bit bigger because you know you've
got two chances.
Speaker 5 (04:31):
But you know, we'll see that's it should be. Should
be interesting, but I'm definitely ready for it.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Good on you, mate, well as I understand it. So
the score is a combination of difficulty, execution and time
of flight. Is that still the case.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Then there's one more element as well, which is basically
a horizontal displacement. So if you land on the cross
you get zero Marx off and sort of every sort
of box you leave from the cross you start to
get deductions. So there's that that's the only other extra
part of the score that that's out of them as well?
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Are you as you gain more experience, I mean, you've
been doing this for a while now. As I say,
third third Olympic Games, are you finding yourself trying more things,
trying different things, or are you just trying to do
the same things better.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
I mean, you're always trying to do the same things better.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
But you know, this games, I'm doing a pretty difficult routine.
I sort of have to if I want to be,
you know, up there with it with those guys. So yeah,
definitely a little bit different to last games. I'm putting out,
you know, my third skill and this routine is what
I started my routine with in Tokyo, so I'll definitely
steping that aspect up. But yeah, obviously trying to maintain
(05:40):
my height, trying to maintain my execution and stuff as well.
So yeah, I mean, for me, this this competition is yes,
basically go hard or go home. Like I'm just giving
it everything, you know, obviously do my best, and the routinees,
you know, feeling good.
Speaker 5 (05:53):
So I'm definitely ready.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
But you know, it's almost like at this point and
sort of where where the sport's at is, you've got
to sort of take a few risks if you want
the rewards, which for me is quite exciting. You know,
I'm really really excited that, you know, I actually have
to have to push myself a bit more than just
kind of staying in my comfort zone.
Speaker 5 (06:11):
I guess so good.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
So the difficulty part of it, the difficulty part of
the score is where you can really boost your score.
Is is that a fair assessment?
Speaker 5 (06:21):
Yeah, difficulty and time of flight are the two big ones.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
So you've been working on that pretty hard either last
little while you.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Were world champion in twenty twenty two. How much confidence
does that give you that you can get on the
top of the podium here.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Yeah, I'm hugely I know I can perform when it
counts and under pressure, and you know, that's just basically
what I have to go out and do this Friday
is just you know, handle the pressure better than anyone
else and do my routine like I know I can
and if I do that, then you know I'm in
with a shot. So yeah, I mean, as I said earlier,
like it's just exciting to be in that position. I'm
(06:57):
just I'm really ready to go and then looking forward
to it.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
How strange your games was Tokyo?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Yeah, she was pretty she was pretty different. Yeah, it
was like kind of felt very much like a business trip.
Just fly in, stick to yourself and try out to
get COVID and then then hit out.
Speaker 5 (07:17):
Do you do your camp and then leave?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Obviously, you know, even if you went sick, if you
tested positive, actually games over, so it was pretty pretty stressful.
But you know, it was it was, it was, it
was fine, like it was. It was easy to easy
to focus and dial in. Obviously there's a lot more
distractions around, like when Games is like this, But you know,
I'm kind of I'm pretty locked in and feeling feeling
(07:39):
like fairly similar leading to to Tokyo. You keep it
to myself and enjoying it and enjoying the social aspect
of it a bit more. But you know, when I'm
at training, it's yeah, it's all. It's all just you
know what and what I know I need to do.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Yeah, I guess in Tokyo as well, when you looked
up into the stands as you would normally at a competition,
I guess to see people look for familiar faces, there
wouldn't have been any there because I guess no one
could travel, could they during COVID. Have you got a
support crub in the stands this time?
Speaker 5 (08:05):
Yeah? I got awesome support.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
So mom and Dad get in today and then I've
got like five or six mates that are going to
be watching as well from school and other areas of
my life. So yep, yeah, it's going to be great.
I'm looking forward to it. Having a crowd is going
to be amazing. It's always fun, so yeah, that's that
should definitely bring a bit more excitement to the to
the arena, not fake, fake crowd noises from the speakers.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
You know, exactly exactly, just to furnish. Mate, when you're
standing there just about to start, what are the final
few things that go through your mind? Or do you
just try and clear your mind as you're about to
start a routine.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Yeah, for the most part, it's just you know, try
and clear the mind, and you know, just tell myself
basically that it's it's just just a sport, right, like,
whatever happens, just enjoy it, have fun, embrace the moment,
and just be happy with whatever happens, because you know,
all the work that I've put in is there, and
(09:04):
you know, if it's meant to be, it's meant to be,
it's not, it's all good.
Speaker 5 (09:07):
I'll go home and still have a pretty awesome life.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
So just really like kind of like stay grounded, stay
put everything into perspective and you know, kind of just
take that weight off your shoulders a little bit before
you go let yourself free. And then generally that's where
my best performance has come as when I'm really free
of free of outcome and free of emotion and just
going out there and just having fun and enjoying it.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Absolutely love it, mate. We can't wait to watch over
the side of the world Saturday morning as we as
we get ready for our weekends. If I know you're
only focused on this, are we chatting again in four
in four years when you're a four time olympian, are.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
We you mate? Definitely?
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Hey, beauty, good on you mate. Thanks thanks for checking
in all the best for the for the final bit
to your preparation, Dylan, Thanks for taking.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
The time, mate, No, thanks a lot.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Dylan Schmidt, our first ever gymnastics medalist at Olympic level
bronze and Tokyo three years ago. Sounds like a fairly
relaxed character. He's been there and done that. It'll be
be one worth watching. Absolutely a medal chance, absolutely without doubt,
a medal chance for us. He's one one already. You'd
(10:14):
have to think that he's got another opportunity when the
trampolining rolls around on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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