Whakatāne athlete Jean-Daniel Rosset has returned from Texas with two medals and delighted with the team’s performance at two gymnastics competitions, held in Texas in the United States.

Rosset, 23, who is studying towards a master’s degree in engineering and trains at TriStar Gymnastics Club in Auckland, was thrilled to be picked for the New Zealand team to compete in Texas.

“I believe myself and the whole New Zealand men’s team performed better than we expected,” Rosset said.

Rosset secured a bronze medal in the floor routine in his division at the first competition, the Horton Challenge, held at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

“My team of four came second in the team event.

“We also had the opportunity to meet Olympic medalist Jonathan Horton, after whom the competition is named.”

The second competition was the Valeri Liukin Invitational – a World Olympic Gymnastics Association meet, held in the Ford Center in Frisco.

More than 8000 competitors representing 13 countries competed across all levels at this competition.

“I earned a bronze on parallel bars. In the team event, we won by a small margin, earning us the Level 9 team trophy.”

Rosset said it was an amazing experience competing on an international stage.

“We were all blown away by the sheer size of the meets.

“It was also very insightful to witness some of the incredible gymnastics performed by others, I think fuelling a lot of us to improve.”