Biography: Jennifer Sans-Abeln

SANS-ABELN, Jennifer

Inducted: 2015
Born: Kansas City

Jennifer in the center, between passes during winning individual Gold for Women’s Double Mini trampoline at 1996 World’s in Vancouver, Canada.  Also in photo are Kimberly Sans (L) and Jennifer Parilla (R).

Sans won three World Championships gold medals for double mini-trampoline: 1996, individual; and 1994 and 1996, team. In addition, she was also a member of the U.S. Team for the World Championships in 1999, where she helped the United States to a sixth place finish in trampoline.

At the national level, Sans won six individual trampoline titles (1992-96, 1999) and two silver medals (1997-98). She also was the women’s national double mini-trampoline champ four times (1993-95, 1997). She was coached by Larry Gleason and trained at Gleason’s Gymnastic School in Eagan, Minn. Currently, Sans resides in Burnsville, Minn., with and is an associate publisher at MSP Communications in Minneapolis. Jennifer reports that “my coach, Larry Gleason, was my guiding light for my entire career.  Words cannot truly describe the gratitude I feel for the countless hours, days and years he invested in me.”

International Competitions:  1993-Indo Pacific Games, Silver-Individual Trampoline and Synchro.  1999 World Championships, Sun City, South Africa; 6th-Team Trampoline, 25th-Individual Trampoline.  1999 French Nationals, Tavira, France; 1st-Trampoline, 1st-Synchro.  1996 World Championships, Vancouver, Canada; 1st-Double Mini.  1995 Trampoline World Cup, Vancouver, Canada; 7th-Trampoline; sixth in synchro.

National Competitions:  1999 National Championships, Anaheim, Calif.; 1st-Trampoline. 1998 National Championships, St. Paul, Minn.; 2nd-Trampoline.  1997 National Championships, Orlando, Fla.; 2nd-Trampoline.  1996 National Championships, Phoenix, Ariz.; 1st-Trampoline.  1995 National Championships, Denver, Colo.; 1st-Trampoline.  1994 National Championships, Nashville, Tenn.; 1st-Synchro, 4th-Double Mini.

Family:  Parents:  Chris (played professional baseball for Los Angeles Dodgers) and Vicki Sans. Jennifer says, “I couldn’t have done this without the support of my parents, The time my parents spent on driving me back and forth to practice, competitions and out of town meets was unwavering!”; Siblings: Sister-Kimberly ( also on the team with Jennifer for many years when the Women’s USA Double Mini team won the team gold in 1994 and 1996).  Jennifer says, “I owe her (Kimberly) a lot and share this induction with my sister for sure!” Younger brother-Scott (also a gymnast in his younger years); Husband: Troy and children-Allie, Katie and Jack.

Sources: Conversations with Jennifer Sans-Abeln, Photos provided by Jennifer Sans-Abeln;
USA Gymnastics: . Research and formatting by assistant web manager Jerry Wright, author of Gymnastics Who’s Who-2010.