Olympian Dylan Schmidt doesn't remember much about competing at the AIMS Games in 2008 – except that he won.

The New Zealand gymnastic trampoline exponent was 11 when he and his mother drove to Tauranga for the day from their home in Waihi. Schmidt remembers it was an event he was determined to win, and he went home with gold.

In 2016, eight years after his only AIMS appearance, Schmidt represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games in Rio. This week, he returned to the 15th annual Anchor AIMS (Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools) Games to judge the gymnastic trampoline event.

"It's pretty crazy."

Schmidt says the standard of competition was mixed but he noted some natural talent among the 150 competitors. There was a supportive team atmosphere at Tauranga's ARGOS Gymnastics Club and many competitors thanked the judges for their time.

"It was just a cool event to be a part of. The kids love it; they have a really good time."

Schmidt is recovering from reconstructive knee surgery in March, following an acute injury during training. He was planning to resume full training in January, after which he'll set his sights on the World Cup mid-February and other qualifying events leading up to Tokyo 2020.

The trampoline titles were shared around, with Lucy Packer (Bucklands Beach) winning the girls' trampoline twisters, Chloe Lam (Farm Cove) taking out the flyers, Saskia Rhind (Tauranga Intermediate) collecting the open junior title and Madison Mills (Northcross) winning the open junior advanced crown.

Heaton Intermediate's Lauren Sheere pipped Zoe Davis (Northcross) for the open senior title.
Ephraime Frame (Berkely Normal) won the boys' flyers by just 0.05pts from schoolmate Blake Crossan, while Luke Hulbert (Churchill Park) comfortably won the boys' twisters.

Hugo McCarroll (Aquinas College) won the boys' open junior title, Deacan Brill won another title for Berkley Normal in the junior advanced and Northcross star Ryan Jefferson won a tight open senior division.

AIMS is considered the premier sporting event for 11,12 and 13-year-olds. The roughly 10,800 athletes at this year's Games hail from 326 schools across Oceania. They will compete across 22 sports this week.

-Stuff