Leigh Hennessy
{{More footnotes needed|BLP=yes|date=March 2009}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Leigh Hennessy
| image = Leigh Hennessy-3 - Version 2.tif
| other_names = Leigh Hennessy-Robson
| birth_place = Lafayette, Louisiana
| alma_mater = University of Louisiana at Lafayette
| occupation = Film stunt woman, gymnast
| spouse = Mark Robson
| website = {{URL|http://www.leighhennessy.com}}
}}
Leigh Hennessy also known as Leigh Hennessy Robson, is a stunt woman, author, and trampoline gymnast.{{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}} 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).{{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}} 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
Leigh Hennessy was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. Her father, Jeff Hennessy, was an expert in the sport of trampolining.{{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}} She started jumping on trampolines at age 3, and her father serving as her first coach.{{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}}
Hennessy attended Lafayette High School and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette), and trained under her father.{{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}} 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.{{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}}
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. After graduation, Hennessy became a 10-time United States champion and two-time World Champion.
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.
Film career
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), 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
- {{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
- 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
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.leighhennessy.com/ Official site]
- {{iMDb name|0377299}}
- [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]
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Category:University of Louisiana at Lafayette alumni
Category:People from Lafayette, Louisiana
Category:American female trampolinists
Category:Actresses from Louisiana
Category:University of Louisiana at Lafayette people