blanchard earned her trip to china by edging friend alaina hebert in the u.s. trampoline olympic selection points system. blanchard and hebert grew up a few miles apart in broussard, la. (pop: 6,000) just outside lafayette and carpooled to practice during their early years in the sport. fellow olympic team member chris estrada trained with blanchard before all three moved to the u.s. olympic training center in colorado springs.