EVERY MONTH, YOUNG MARY PETERS TRUST ATHLETES SPELL OUT HOW THE CHARITY IS AIDING THE PURSUIT OF THEIR SPORTING DREAMS
Molly McKenna
Gymnastics (Double Mini Trampoline)
RANDALSTOWN double mini trampoline gymnast Molly McKenna HAS secured a Team GB Silver with her team mates at the World Championships.
It was sweet success, given her road to recovery from a challenging injury back in October 2024, a year of mixed fortunes for her.
Whilst Molly took silver at the Europeans in Portugal followed by gold medals at the NI Championships and British Championships, it was at the latter that she ended up with two broken vertebrae.
“Taking three months off following the British Championships with lots of rest and rehab was very hard,” she admits.
By mid-January 2025, Molly was able to begin training: “It was very minimal. I was only allowed to bounce 60 times maximum.”
She gradually built up her training and by April 2025 took part in her first competition since the injury but couldn’t do the complex routines she would normally execute at her level. By August this year Molly was back to full fitness and hit some world qualifying scores at June competitions.
Her key aim for the remainder of 2025 was to qualify for the World Championships and in October she was been selected for her second World Championships alongside Emily Lock, Kirsty Way and Kim Beattie. On socials Molly said: “I’m so excited to be selected and thank you to everyone who has helped me get to this point in my career – I really appreciate everyone’s help.”
It was the 38th FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships and was held at the Navarra Arena in Pamplona, Spain in November 2025. It featured 350 gymnasts, representing 39 national gymnastics federations competing across 16 medal events. Individually Molly came 13th saying on social: “What a Week. It may not have been my best performance individually, but I am so proud of our team silver which we all worked so hard for.
“I had the most amazing time with the most amazing group of people, and I can’t wait to see what 2026 will bring! A big thank-you to everyone in the lead up to this competition.”
Molly first became a Mary Peters Trust supported athlete in 2019 and very much values the Trust’s help.
She relates: “Travel to training camps and competitions worldwide is incredibly expensive and funding from the Mary Peters Trust has been vital. It’s made attending many competitions possible.
“International competition standard costumes are also very expensive – it’s all those sequins and diamantes!”
Molly’s Team GB journey began in 2016, and she entered the Seniors arena in 2023 with huge success in November of that year when she competed in her first Senior World Championships in Birmingham. Individually Molly took fifth place, and Team GB won the gold medal.
“It’s my proudest moment to date and it was very emotional for all four of us on the team. We made history in 2023 being the first senior GB team to take gold in DMT at a World Championship,” she said.
Molly is currently combining her training with study as she’s in her first year of a four-year degree at the University of Stirling in Sport and Business Management. She’s also joined a new gymnastics club in Cumbernauld – Jump GC. Molly has known Debi McPhee, Head Coach at Jump Gymnastics Club, for several years and once she obtained a place at University of Stirling, Jump GC was Molly’s first choice.
“I was eager to become one of Debi’s gymnasts, and it’s great because she also coaches some of my Team GB teammates,” she said.
In addition to her recent World Championships Team Silver in Spain, Molly has won seven gold medals at Junior and Senior levels in World, European, British and Northern Irish Championships – both as an individual and with Team GB. Her next big goal is to take part in the World Games in Germany during 2029.
“Double mini trampoline is not an Olympic discipline. For DMT gymnasts the World Games every four years is our top goal – it’s our equivalent of the Olympic Games,” she explains.
Reflecting on Lady Mary and the Trust, Molly says: “Mary is a real lady – sporting royalty. She’s so influential and has a real presence but when you meet her, she is so down to earth.
“It’s also so lovely taking part in championships knowing you are supported by Mary and her Trust – it really gives you that extra confidence boost.”
Molly in competition (above and below)
