Nate Swanepoel

Nate Swanepoel is a 20-year-old American double mini trampoline gymnast from Scotts Valley, California, currently based in Phoenix, Arizona, where he attends Arizona State University and trains with North Valley Gymnastics. His journey into the sport began by chance — his parents entered him in a raffle at Brook Knoll Elementary School and he won a free week at Vargas Academy of Gymnastic Arts in Scotts Valley, where he was initially signed up for parkour. Spotting trampoline gymnasts flying through the air, he immediately switched disciplines and never looked back. Under the guidance of coach Vernon Vargas, he developed a passion for the technical and creative demands of double mini trampoline, where athletes sprint down a runway, mount an angled apparatus, and perform two aerial skills before sticking a landing. Despite suffering a serious foot injury that threatened to derail his career, Swanepoel made a full comeback and earned selection to Team USA for the 2025 FIG Trampoline World Age Group Competitions held in Pamplona, Spain. There, competing in the 17-21 age division, he qualified second in double mini with a score of 55.200 and went on to claim the silver medal for the United States — one of the standout results of his young career. A former standout at Vargas Academy, he also trained with the USA Gymnastics national programme before joining North Valley Gymnastics. He describes double mini as feeling like flying, and brings a deep love of creativity and physical expression to every pass he performs.