Travis Gerrits facts for kids
| Personal information | ||||||||
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| Born | October 19, 1991 Milton, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | |||||||
| Weight | 150 pounds (68 kg; 11 st) | |||||||
| Sport | ||||||||
| Country |  Canada |
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| Sport | Freestyle skiing | |||||||
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Medal record
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Travis Gerrits is a Canadian athlete who used to be a freestyle skier. He was born on October 19, 1991, in Milton, Ontario. Travis won a silver medal at the 2013 World Championships for freestyle skiing. In 2011, he was also named the "Rookie of the Year" by the International Ski Federation (FIS).
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Early Life and Training
Travis Gerrits grew up in Milton, Ontario. He went to W.I. Dick Public Middle School and Milton District High School. Because of his intense training and competitions, he often missed half of his classes.
Before skiing, Travis was involved in gymnastics and trampoline. He even competed at a high level in trampoline. He started skiing when he was six years old. By age 10, he was competing in provincial skiing championships. There, he met and got help from another skier, Nicolas Fontaine. Travis first trained in Lake Placid, New York. Later, in 2004, the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association built a training center in Quebec.
Skiing Career Highlights
By the time Travis was 15, he joined the Canadian National Development Team for aerials. Aerials is a type of freestyle skiing where athletes perform flips and twists in the air. He was even invited to the 2010 Winter Olympics as a "forerunner." This meant he tested the course before the main competition. After the 2010 season, he was named the international rookie of the year.
In 2011-2012, Travis had to recover from a knee injury. But he bounced back! During the 2012-2013 World Cup season, he won two silver medals.
Winning Silver at World Championships
Travis had a big moment when he won a silver medal at the 2013 World Championships in Norway. This win was super important because it meant he qualified for the 2014 Winter Olympics, representing Canada. Travis was thrilled, saying that second place felt like a victory because he made it to the Olympics. He felt he had achieved everything he wanted that season.
At the end of 2013, Travis won a World Cup aerials event in Beijing, China. This was another amazing achievement for him.
Olympic Experience and Retirement
At the 2014 Winter Olympics, Travis Gerrits finished in 7th place in the men's aerials final. He continued to compete, but later faced more injuries. He decided not to try for the 2018 Winter Olympics to focus on his recovery.
In 2019, Travis shared that he had retired from his skiing career. He had been part of the Canadian national team for 14 years.
Personal Life
In 2017, Travis Gerrits shared his experience of being an athlete while managing a health condition called bipolar I disorder. He was diagnosed in 2014. He explained how he managed his treatment. He also noted that his career results sometimes came in "spurts and peaks" because of his illness.
In 2020, Travis Gerrits was honored by being added to the Milton Sports Hall of Fame.
Key Achievements
Travis Gerrits had many great results during his career:
- He achieved 8 top-five finishes in the Nor-Am Cup.
- He had 7 top-five finishes in the World Cup.
- He earned 1 top-five finish at the World Championships, which was his silver medal in 2013.
See also
In Spanish: Travis Gerrits para niños
