Here on Jumper Spotlight we highlight someone who is, or has been, important to our sport and community. The people we highlight can be athletes, judges, announcers, coaches, or just someone who’s passion for the sport has impacted you, your team, our community, or our sport in an important way.
If you would like to be spotlighted, or have someone else you think should be spotlighted feel free to e-mail us at [email protected]
Today’s Jumper Spotlight is, Eilea Given, known also as @eileagiven on Instagram.
Eilea calls herself a Canadian housewife and obnoxious rope ninja. She started 20 years ago in 1996 and has been jumping ever since, mostly in Canada. This past July Eilea went to World Jump Rope in Paris France, and then Kaitlyn Simpson and her won the Paris single rope freestyle event at the Grand World Championships.
Eilea started jumping on the very first Canadian jump rope team, and then she kind of went rogue jumping for various teams. Kaitlyn Simpson’s team, Lakehead University, is the team that Eilea jumps with the most. When she isn’t jumping with L.U. she can be found jumping for the Zacada circus and traveling around doing workshops with other Canadian teams.
Recognizing a lot of injuries occurring in the sport, Eilea has become passionate about teaching proper form in jump rope. Eilea would like jump rope athletes to emulate gymnastics competitions in docking points for imperfect landings to force jumpers to learn proper foot placement and in so doing decrease the chance of injury while performing.
If you would like to learn more about Eilea Given you can listen to her on the Jump Rope Jam Podcast, or look for her future posts here and on all of her social media.