Jamie Canning was eight years old when he found his safe space during a tough part of his life.
Now aged 22, he is the back-to-back British disability trampolining champion.
Disability trampoline gymnastics is a rapidly growing field focusing on providing accessible, tailored, and competitive opportunities for disabled individuals.
It was recognised as a formal discipline of gymnastics by the World Gymnastics Federation in October 2024.
The 2024 FIG decision to recognise para gymnastics as an official discipline puts the sport on a pathway to potential inclusion at the 2032 Brisbane Paralympic Games.
The recognition comes after a huge growth in membership in the disabled category under British Gymnastics and long-term petition work that Canning and his club have been part of.
Jamie’s Story
Canning’s journey with Liverpool Trampoline Gymnastics Academy started when he was eight years old, when he was taken under the LTGA owners’ wings.
He said: “I started trampolining in 2012. This is the only club I’ve ever been to, which is amazing. I got diagnosed with autism in 2014.
“Trampolining helped me so much in calming down. By the time I had started trampolining, I had been through ten schools.
“From there, being able to come into the gym, work off energy and have my own safe space helped me develop a lot as a person.”
His coach Jay Scouler said: “I was still young at the time, when I first started coaching Jamie, and he and I went on a bit of a journey together, understanding his diagnosis, understanding what it meant.
“Where Jamie is now running his own business and being the Disability British Champion, it’s a really inspiring story and one that I’m kind of really proud to have been able to play a part in and kind of, like he’s just, he’s an inspiration to so many people.”
The duo was recognised for the Disability Trampoline Performance Partnership of the Year in 2025.
The young gymnast quickly progressed, and when disability gymnastic competition pathways opened shortly after his diagnosis, Canning leapt at the chance to show off his skills.
British Championships
Canning is now a back-to-back champion after winning the Disability Trampoline Gymnastics Championship in 2024 and 2025:
“It’s probably one of the biggest achievements in my life.
“In my first year, I competed with my own skill I created. In the second year, I broke the difficulty record there.
“It’s massive, massive achievements for me. And I think it’s also good to kind of show that there is a high level to that side of the sport, and hopefully inspire a few of the younger kids who were in a similar situation to me.
“Hopefully, I can show them that they can do it as well.”
He recently set a new record, shortly after knocking himself unconscious on his first run at his last competition.
via j.canning03 – instagram
“My head and eyes felt like they were vibrating for a few seconds, but after a few seconds of lying down, I felt good enough to get up and get moving.
“I knew I was okay and wanted to finish what I came to do.”
On his second go, Jamie completed the stunt and secured a new record.
Future Plans
Now, Canning wants to compete internationally for his country after winning back-to-back championships, but he faces a lack of international disability competitions.
Last month saw the success of the British Paralympic Gymnastics trial, raising hope that disability gymnastics would be recognised as a Paralympic sport.
Trampoline gymnastics is ahead of its artistic counterpart by a decade when it comes to disability competitions.
There is some frustration that the discipline hasn’t gone international, despite BG’s focus on floor exercises for the disability masters.
Jamie now works as a coach at his lifelong club, alongside his professional career. He volunteers with Kindly Connect to bring awareness of what sport can do for disabled children.
“Those guys are fantastic. They run like an after-school club for children with disabilities, and we get people in and give them a community where they won’t be judged.
“I think the work they do is absolutely fantastic, and that’s why I like going out and helping with that because it helps me get back to a community.”
View this post on Instagram
“If you had told me 10 years ago, I’d be where I am right now, running my own businesses, coaching kids, holding world records, and being a British champion, I wouldn’t have believed you.
“But through the support in this club and the fantastic coaches that are here, I’ve been able to do that.”
