the 2006 u.s. champion, blanchard retired in 2007. she told the houston chronicle: "i had some complications with the gym and the coach. i just had to get away from it all." during her eight-month break she worked out with her brother, a body builder, but didn't bounce on a trampoline at all. but once the u.s. secured a wildcard olympic spot, blanchard reconsidered her retirement: "when i walked away, i never really thought of the olympics as a possibility." after a rough first day back, blanchard said that it took her about a month to relearn most of her skills.