NI’s Molly McKenna on the ups and downs of trampolining and her Cirque du Soleil dream

Molly has been supported by the Mary Peters Trust since 2019

Randalstown gymnast Molly McKenna is on the cusp of her next big life adventure – both academic and sporting. The 19-year-old DMT (double mini trampoline) specialist has chalked up seven gold medals at Junior and Senior levels in World, European, British and Northern Irish Championships – both as an individual and with Team GB.

Now she’s embarking on a four-year degree at the University of Stirling in Scotland in Sport and Business Management and is joining a new gymnastics club in Cumbernauld, Jump GC.

“It’s the closest club to the university and some of my Team GB friends are there too, which is fantastic,” says Molly.

While she is already accustomed to competing on the world stage, the talented gymnast’s ambitions go beyond sport and into the world of entertainment, where skills like hers are highly prized. Her dream is to tour the globe as part of the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil.

“Its producers scout elite gymnasts, so I’m hoping I get noticed over the next few years,” she reveals. “And if I could get a part in The Greatest Showman anywhere in the world that would be a dream come true,” she reveals. “It’s a favourite show and film of mine.”

Vital support

Molly has been a Mary Peters Trust-supported athlete since 2019 and very much values the Trust’s help.

“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. It’s so lovely taking part in championships knowing you are supported by Mary and her Trust – it really gives you that extra confidence boost.

“International competition standard costumes are also very expensive – it’s all those sequins and diamantes!”

Reflecting on Lady Mary, 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.”

Read more: Star-studded gala event to celebrate 50 years of the Mary Peters Trust

A Team GB journey

Molly’s career with Team GB began in 2016 when she got involved with the 11-12 age group squad, but her international career really took off aged 12 when she took part in her first junior World Championships in St Petersburg in 2018.

“It was my first world event and I came twelfth, but it was such an amazing experience,” she adds.

Still operating at junior level, Molly’s big breakthrough year came in 2022 when she secured accolades across the board, achieving junior British, Northern Irish, European and World Championships.

“My first year as a Senior (16+) in 2023 didn’t start well,” she recalls. “At the National qualifiers in England I didn’t hit the necessary scores to qualify for international competitions. It was nerve-wracking competing against gymnasts I had previously looked up to.

“I learned quickly to be more consistent, and I had to discipline myself. My goal was to achieve five passes each training session.”

‘My proudest moment to date’

Her focused approach paid off as in July 2023 Molly won gold at the Scalibis Cup in Portugal, achieving the highest score in the competition: “It gave me huge confidence,” she says.

Success followed in November of 2023 when Molly competed at the 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 being the first senior GB team to take gold in DMT at a World Championship.”

2024 proved a year of mixed fortunes. Whilst Molly took silver at the Europeans in Portugal followed by gold medals at the NI Championships in Newtownards and the Telford hosted British Championships, it was at the latter in October that she ended up with two broken vertebrae.

“It’s at these challenging moments in your sporting journey that you really appreciate your family,” she says. “I’ve had a few difficult times with injury and of course the pandemic, and it was my parents [Robert and Jayne] who picked me up when I felt totally demotivated.

“They, along with my brother Conall, are always there for me. If I can’t see my mum and dad at competitions, I can certainly hear them.”

By August 2025, Molly was back to full fitness, and her key aim for the remainder of 2025 is to qualify for the World Championships in Pamplona, Spain in November – both individually and as part of Team GB.

Giving something back

When she has finished competing and performing at the highest level, Molly is keen to invest in setting up her own gymnastics club in Northern Ireland: “I’d like to pass on so much of my experience and the skills I have learned to the next generation of young gymnasts.

“I have so many people to thank who have helped me along the way and I’d like to give something back.

“To date I’ve been part of three gymnastics clubs locally and three across the water. I’d like to pay tribute to my GB coaches Aaron, Phil, Lauren and Sarah. And to my Northern Ireland coaches Geraldine and Denise and my personal coach Amanda at Flight Gymnastics.”

Global ambition

Having missed out on a chance to qualify for the 2025 World Games in China due to her injury, Molly’s next big goal is to take part in the World Games in Germany during 2029.

“Whilst individual trampolining is an Olympic sport, DMT 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.”

The 2025 Sport Inspires festive fundraiser at the Europa Hotel on Friday, November 21 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Mary Peters Trust. For more information or to book a table, contact events@asgcomms.com. Tickets cost £120 plus VAT per person / £1,200 plus VAT per table of 10.

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