Leigh Hennessy

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.

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

Early life and education

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

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

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
  • 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
  • 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
  1. "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. "HENNESSY, Leigh". United States Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  3. "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. 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.
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