The First Azerbaijani Female Trampolinist at the Olympics
On a summer evening in Paris in August 2024, Seljan Mahsudova stepped onto the Olympic trampoline apparatus and made history. She became the first Azerbaijani female trampolinist ever to compete at the Olympic Games. At just 20 years old, she finished 5th in the women’s individual trampoline final with a score of 55.020 — one of the highest results ever recorded by an Azerbaijani gymnast at the Olympics.
Her journey to Paris was not the result of sudden luck. It was built over nearly a decade of systematic development within Azerbaijan’s gymnastics infrastructure, guided by Belarusian national coach Uladzimir Shulikin and supported by the Specialised Children-Youth Gymnastics School of Olympic Reserves in Baku.
From Baku to the World Stage
Seljan Mahsudova was born on August 28, 2003, in Baku, Azerbaijan. She began competing internationally at age-group level, placing 15th at the 2017 FIG World Age Group Competitions and improving to 4th place at the 2019 edition in the 15-16 category. These early results signaled that Azerbaijan was developing a serious talent in a sport historically dominated by China, Russia, and Belarus.
Her senior breakthrough came at the 2021 European Championships in Sochi, where she became the first Azerbaijani female trampolinist to reach a European final, finishing 6th. That same year, she won gold at the Turkish Open Championships, proving she could win against international competition.
The 2022 Baku World Cup: A Historic Medal
In 2022, competing in front of her home crowd at the Baku World Cup, Mahsudova claimed the silver medal. It was the first FIG World Cup medal ever won by an Azerbaijani female trampoline gymnast. This result announced to the world that Azerbaijan was no longer a developing nation in the sport — they had arrived at the elite level.
She followed this with bronze at the 2023 Baku World Cup. At the 2024 Alkmaar World Cup, she achieved a perfect execution score, demonstrating the technical precision that defines her style.
Paris 2024: Olympic History
Qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics came through consistent World Cup performances. When Mahsudova competed in the women’s individual trampoline event at the Bercy Arena, she carried the weight of her nation’s hopes but performed with composure beyond her years.
Her 5th place finish with 55.020 points placed her ahead of established European and Asian competitors. For context, Anzhela Bladtseva, competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete, finished in the same final — showing that Mahsudova was competing at the absolute highest level of the sport.
2025 World Championships: Bronze in Mixed Synchronized
Mahsudova’s career took another significant step forward at the 2025 FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships in Pamplona, Spain. She won a bronze medal in the inaugural mixed synchronized trampoline competition, a new event that pairs male and female athletes from the same nation.
This medal added to Azerbaijan’s growing collection of gymnastics honors and demonstrated Mahsudova’s versatility. Synchronized trampoline requires not only individual technical skill but also perfect timing and coordination with a partner — a different challenge from individual competition.
What Makes Her Style Distinctive
Trampoline gymnastics is judged on difficulty, execution, time of flight, and horizontal displacement. Mahsudova’s strength lies in her execution scores. Her perfect execution at the 2024 Alkmaar World Cup was not an anomaly — it reflected years of technical refinement under Coach Shulikin.
Her routines are characterized by clean form, controlled landings, and minimal horizontal drift. In a sport where tenths of points separate medalists, this technical cleanliness is her competitive advantage.
Azerbaijan’s Gymnastics Revolution
Seljan Mahsudova is part of a broader gymnastics movement in Azerbaijan. Her younger brother, Magsud Mahsudov, is also an international trampolinist and 2021 World Age Group champion. The family represents a new generation of Azerbaijani athletes who have grown up within professional structures rather than adapting to them later in their careers.
The Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation has invested heavily in trampoline since the early 2010s, hosting multiple FIG World Cups in Baku and building state-of-the-art training facilities. Mahsudova is the proof that this investment works.
The Path Forward
At 22 years old in 2026, Mahsudova is entering the prime competitive years for a trampoline gymnast. The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics represent a clear target. With an Olympic final already on her resume and a World Championship medal in synchronized events, she has the foundation to pursue even higher goals.
Her consistency across World Cup events, her Olympic experience, and her ability to perform under pressure suggest that the best of her career may still be ahead.
Following Seljan Mahsudova
For fans interested in trampoline gymnastics and emerging nations in the sport, Seljan Mahsudova represents exactly the kind of athlete worth following. Her story combines individual excellence with national significance — she is not just winning for herself but opening doors for Azerbaijani gymnastics.
You can follow her journey and manage her as part of your team on Peaxel, where fans collect athlete cards and compete as athlete managers. Explore her athlete card and discover more emerging talents across all sports on Peaxel.