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{{More footnotes needed|BLP=yes|date=March 2009}}
'''Leigh Hennessy''' is a world [[trampoline]] champion who runs the trampoline Website [http://www.trampolinepundit.com/ Trampoline Pundit]. In addition to being the Trampoline Pundit, she also enjoys a career as an actress and stunt performer<ref>[http://www.leighhennessy.com/ Leigh Hennessy official site]</ref> in the film and television industries.

{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Leigh Hennessy
|image=
| image = Leigh Hennessy-3 - Version 2.tif
|birth_place=[[Lafayette, Louisiana]]
| other_names = Leigh Hennessy-Robson
|occupation=[[Film actress]], [[gymnast]]
| birth_place = [[Lafayette, Louisiana]]
|website=http://www.leighhennessy.com
| alma_mater = [[University of Louisiana at Lafayette]]
| occupation = Film stunt woman, [[gymnast]]
| spouse = [[Mark Robson (American writer)|Mark Robson]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.leighhennessy.com}}
}}
}}


'''Leigh Hennessy''' also known as '''Leigh Hennessy Robson''', is a stunt woman, author, and trampoline gymnast.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2019-10-31|title=Alum Hennessy Robson jumping for joy to enter athletics hall of fame|url=https://louisiana.edu/news-events/news/20191031/alum-hennessy-robson-jumping-joy-enter-athletics-hall-fame|access-date=2021-05-13|website=University of Louisiana at Lafayette|language=en}}</ref> She was a two-time double mini-[[trampoline]] world champion, (1976, 1978) and won a silver medal in synchronized trampoline at the World Trampoline Championships, (1976).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=|title=HENNESSY, Leigh|url=https://usghof.org/files/bio/l_hennessy/l_hennessy.html|access-date=2021-05-13|website=United States Gymnastics Hall of Fame|date=22 March 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> In the late 1990s, she translated her athletic career into one as an actress and stunt performer for film and television.
Leigh's father, [[Jeff Hennessy]],<ref>[http://www.trampoline-usa.com/ Jeff Hennessy (father) autobiography and photo gallery]</ref> a retired associate professor at the [[University of Louisiana at Lafayette]] (then named the University of Southwestern Louisiana) was an expert in the sport of [[trampolining]] and was her first trampoline coach. According to [[Guinness World Records]], she holds the record for winning the most US national championships in trampoline for women. She competed for the United States in several world championships in individual trampoline, synchronized trampoline, and double mini-trampoline, winning two world titles.


== Early life and education ==
While Leigh was one of the best female trampolinists in United States history, she was also a successful trampoline coach. She founded a trampoline academy in [[Lafayette, Louisiana]] and served as a coach for the United States national team.
Leigh Hennessy was born in [[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]], [[Louisiana]]. Her father, [[Jeff Hennessy]], was an expert in the sport of [[trampolining]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2009-09-13|title=UL's 2019 Louisiana Athletics Hall of Fame class announced|url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/2019/09/13/ul-announces-2019-louisiana-athletics-hall-fame-class/2313634001/|access-date=2021-05-13|website=The Daily Advertiser|language=en-US}}</ref> She started jumping on trampolines at age 3, and her father serving as her first coach.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Battista|first=Judy|date=4 October 1994|title=Bounce Back On A Trampoline|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/638257734/|url-access=subscription|access-date=2021-05-13|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=[[The Miami Herald]]|page=147|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" />


Hennessy attended [[Lafayette High School (Louisiana)|Lafayette High School]] and the [[University of Louisiana at Lafayette]] (UL Lafayette), and trained under her father.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Pierce|first=Walter|date=30 August 1997|title=All In A Day's Work; Native Daughter 'Falls' For Hollywood|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/539343661/|url-access=subscription|access-date=2021-05-13|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=The Daily Advertiser|page=15|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> She earned her master's degree in communication from UL Lafayette.
After earning a master's degree in communication at the [[University of Louisiana at Lafayette]] and working for Congressman [[Jimmy Hayes]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], Leigh's career shifted to stunt work in [[Hollywood]]. She has worked as [[Demi Moore]]'s stunt double in [[GI Jane]] and many other films, television shows and commercials. In 2006, Leigh starred in the opening scenes of [[The Guardian (2006 film)|The Guardian]], a film with [[Kevin Costner]], in which she played the role of the drowning wife. She was nominated for a [[Taurus World Stunt Award]] in 2007 for her work in this movie. More recently, she transitioned into stunt coordinating and coaching stunt performers.

In 2008, Hennessy and Mark B. Robson married at the Birse Kirk church in [[Birse]], located in the [[Scottish Highlands]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 December 2008|title=Mr. and Mrs. Robson|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/537004883/|url-access=subscription|access-date=2021-05-14|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=The Daily Advertiser|page=70|language=en}}</ref>

== Trampoline ==
In 1978, she was the first athlete, male or female, to win all three trampoline events in the US National Championships. She was honored in 1978 by the Southern Amateur Athletic Union as "Athlete of the Year.

While attended UL Lafayette, Hennessy was a five-time National [[Amateur Athletic Union]] (AAU) All-American for trampoline, from 1976 to 1980.<ref name=":2" /> After graduation, Hennessy became a 10-time United States champion and two-time World Champion.<ref name=":2" />

According to [[Guinness World Records]], she holds the record for winning the most US national championships in trampoline for women. She competed for the United States in numerous world championships in individual trampoline, synchronized trampoline, and double mini-trampoline, winning two Senior level world titles. In August 2007, Hennessy was inducted into the [[USA Gymnastics]] Hall of Fame in recognition of her trampoline achievements.<ref name=":1" />

== Film career ==
Leigh's career shifted to stunt work in [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]]. Among her list of credits includes performing stunts for [[Demi Moore]] as her stunt double in [[GI Jane]] (1997),<ref name=":3" /> performing 90-foot high-falls for [[Lucy Liu]] in both [[Charlie's Angels (2000 film)|Charlie's Angels]] movies (2000, 2003) and, she shared the opening scenes of [[The Guardian (2006 film)|''The Guardian'']] (2006) with [[Kevin Costner]], in which she played the role of the drowning wife.

She was nominated for a [[Taurus World Stunt Award]] in 2006, 2007 for her work.

== Publications ==

* {{Cite book|last=Honore|first=Russel L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_hMatAEACAAJ|title=Don't Get Stuck on Stupid!: Leadership in Action|publisher=Acadian House Publishing|others=Mark B. Robson (contributor), Leigh Hennessy Robson (contributor)|year=2017|isbn=978-0999588413|editor-last=Angers|editor-first=Trent|author-link=Russel L. Honoré}}
*{{Cite book|last1=Hennessy|first1=Jefferson|title=The Day of the Cajundome Mega-Shelter|last2=Hennessy Robson|first2=Leigh|last3=Robson|first3=Mark B.|publisher=Acadian House Publishing|year=2017|isbn=978-0-925417-95-4|author-link3=Mark Robson (American writer)}}


==Honors==
==Honors==
*World Acrobatics Society Legends Hall of Fame, 2005
*In August 2007, Hennessy was inducted into the [[USA Gymnastics]] Hall of Fame in recognition of her trampoline achievements. Her father was already a member of the Hall of Fame, and they are the first father and daughter ever to be inducted.
*Lifetime achievement award from the International Trampoline Federation, 1982
*World Acrobatics Society Legends Hall of Fame
*University of Louisiana Ragin Cajun Athletics Hall of Fame, 2019
*Southern AAU Athlete of the Year
*Lifetime achievement award from the International Trampoline Federation
*Taurus World Stunt Award nomination


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{More footnotes|article|date=March 2009}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.leighhennessy.com/ Official site]
*[http://www.leighhennessy.com/ Official site]
*[http://www.trampolinepundit.com/ Trampoline Pundit]
*{{iMDb name|0377299}}
*{{iMDb name|0377299}}
*[http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/news/2007/may09-07hof.html USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame]
*[http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/news/2007/may09-07hof.html USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame]
*[https://athleticnetwork.net/site1106.php Louisiana Ragin Cajun Athletic Network]
*[http://trampoline-usa.com/ Trampoline-USA]

{{authority control}}


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[[Category:21st-century American women]]



{{US-film-actor-stub}}

Latest revision as of 22:32, 21 November 2024

Leigh Hennessy
Born
Other namesLeigh Hennessy-Robson
Alma materUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette
Occupation(s)Film stunt woman, gymnast
SpouseMark Robson
Websitewww.leighhennessy.com

Leigh Hennessy also known as Leigh Hennessy Robson, is a stunt woman, author, and trampoline gymnast.[1] She was a two-time double mini-trampoline world champion, (1976, 1978) and won a silver medal in synchronized trampoline at the World Trampoline Championships, (1976).[2] In the late 1990s, she translated her athletic career into one as an actress and stunt performer for film and television.

Early life and education

[edit]

Leigh Hennessy was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. Her father, Jeff Hennessy, was an expert in the sport of trampolining.[3] She started jumping on trampolines at age 3, and her father serving as her first coach.[4][1]

Hennessy attended Lafayette High School and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette), and trained under her father.[5][3] She earned her master's degree in communication from UL Lafayette.

In 2008, Hennessy and Mark B. Robson married at the Birse Kirk church in Birse, located in the Scottish Highlands.[6]

Trampoline

[edit]

In 1978, she was the first athlete, male or female, to win all three trampoline events in the US National Championships. She was honored in 1978 by the Southern Amateur Athletic Union as "Athlete of the Year.

While attended UL Lafayette, Hennessy was a five-time National Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) All-American for trampoline, from 1976 to 1980.[3] After graduation, Hennessy became a 10-time United States champion and two-time World Champion.[3]

According to Guinness World Records, she holds the record for winning the most US national championships in trampoline for women. She competed for the United States in numerous world championships in individual trampoline, synchronized trampoline, and double mini-trampoline, winning two Senior level world titles. In August 2007, Hennessy was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in recognition of her trampoline achievements.[2]

Film career

[edit]

Leigh's career shifted to stunt work in Hollywood. Among her list of credits includes performing stunts for Demi Moore as her stunt double in GI Jane (1997),[5] performing 90-foot high-falls for Lucy Liu in both Charlie's Angels movies (2000, 2003) and, she shared the opening scenes of The Guardian (2006) with Kevin Costner, in which she played the role of the drowning wife.

She was nominated for a Taurus World Stunt Award in 2006, 2007 for her work.

Publications

[edit]
  • Honore, Russel L. (2017). Angers, Trent (ed.). Don't Get Stuck on Stupid!: Leadership in Action. Mark B. Robson (contributor), Leigh Hennessy Robson (contributor). Acadian House Publishing. ISBN 978-0999588413.
  • Hennessy, Jefferson; Hennessy Robson, Leigh; Robson, Mark B. (2017). The Day of the Cajundome Mega-Shelter. Acadian House Publishing. ISBN 978-0-925417-95-4.

Honors

[edit]
  • World Acrobatics Society Legends Hall of Fame, 2005
  • Lifetime achievement award from the International Trampoline Federation, 1982
  • University of Louisiana Ragin Cajun Athletics Hall of Fame, 2019

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Alum Hennessy Robson jumping for joy to enter athletics hall of fame". University of Louisiana at Lafayette. 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  2. ^ a b "HENNESSY, Leigh". United States Gymnastics Hall of Fame. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  3. ^ a b c d "UL's 2019 Louisiana Athletics Hall of Fame class announced". The Daily Advertiser. 2009-09-13. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  4. ^ Battista, Judy (4 October 1994). "Bounce Back On A Trampoline". Newspapers.com. The Miami Herald. p. 147. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  5. ^ a b Pierce, Walter (30 August 1997). "All In A Day's Work; Native Daughter 'Falls' For Hollywood". Newspapers.com. The Daily Advertiser. p. 15. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  6. ^ "Mr. and Mrs. Robson". Newspapers.com. The Daily Advertiser. 14 December 2008. p. 70. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
[edit]