Ji jumps back into training

It was Fair Day 2005 when Sydney last saw Ji Wallace in full flight. Literally. His twists, turns and somersaults as he flung himself skyward drew thousands of spectators up the hill to Sports Village.
After his Silver Medal win in the Sydney 2000 Olympics we expected to report on his success in Athens. But no, Ji was no longer “Jumping Ji”. He had retired.
But when he viewed the 2004 competition, Ji wished he had been there. Now he is back in training with sights on Beijing and maybe even London. “London? Just maybe,” Ji says.
This weekend Ji will compete in the National Clubs Championships in Adelaide, his adopted home town. After that it will be lockdown until the World Championships in Québec five weeks later. This is the qualifying process for the Australian Olympic team and Ji is determined to qualify.
It will be an arduous path. Ji already does big days. As a personal trainer, he starts working with his clients early in the morning before his 8am trampoline session at the gymnasium. Then it’s more work, another two hours’ training in the late afternoon and, most days, more clients after that. Ji says there is more. “Stretching, recovery sessions, physiotherapy, massage, choreography, sports psychology, sweating in the sauna as well as work as a chiropractor all feature,” he says.
He was 23 when he made the podium in Sydney and he will be 31 for Beijing. “Male gymnasts’ bodies tend to peak later than other athletes,” Ji says, but he admits to having to watch his weight. “I work out with my clients so I use weights a lot and I put on muscle easily. I also like eating.” As for divers and tumblers, compact, not stocky, is the go for the trampoline so Ji is currently dieting to get himself down to 68 kilograms.
Ji will be focused on peak performance for Québec and again for Beijing. There won’t be much life outside of training but Ji is well prepared for the disciplines necessary to be a competitor in Beijing.