LONDON - Canada's Jason Burnett planned to do one of the most difficult routines of the men's trampoline competition at the London Games on Friday.

He never got the chance to really show it off.

Burnett reached the final but made a mistake on the first of his 10 skills and had to settle for an eighth-place finish. A slight over-rotation affected his second move and Burnett was forced to land along the padded edge that protects the springs.

He flailed in the air toward the middle of the trampoline and landed on his feet as a look of crushing disappointment washed over his face.

There would be no return to the Olympic podium that he reached four years ago as a silver medallist in Beijing.

"You show up well prepared and then you roll the dice and see what happens," said coach Dave Ross. "They might come out two sixes, they might come out two ones."

Burnett hit snake eyes early.

A difficulty score of 18.2 was possible if he had hit his planned moves, a number that was slightly higher than the level in gold medallist Dong Dong's routine.

The Canadian planned to do the same five tricks as his solid preliminary round and then really show some twist-heavy moves over the back half. However, when he was forced to lean backwards before his second trick, his takeoff was affected and it ended his routine a few seconds later.

"Another couple of inches he would have been able to keep going," Ross said. "But you land on the springs, you don't get any bounce."

The trampoline looks like a postage stamp when you're soaring 30 feet in the air. Even a slight error while an athlete is airborne doing somersaults and twists can have consequences.

Burnett said if done properly, he should have been propelled straight up for his second trick. Instead he was sent towards the framepads.

"That's just part of trampoline," he said. "Crashes happen all the time and you do what you can do deal with them."

Burnett and Ross sat grim-faced as the scores were read out. Burnett then returned to the athlete seating area at the North Greenwich Arena to watch the five remaining competitors.

Dong was joined on the podium by Chinese compatriot Lu Chunlong and Dmitry Ushakov of Russia, who took the silver. Lu won gold at the Beijing Games while Dong took the bronze in 2008.

At 34, Athens gold medallist Yuriy Nikitin of Ukraine was the oldest competitor in the 16-man field but he did not reach the final round.

Burnett broke his right leg a few years ago and has had several nagging injuries in the leadup to the Games. Ross estimated the training time was cut in half for the four-year period.

Burnett said he felt "100 per cent" entering the competition and he appeared confident as he waved to the near-capacity crowd when the eight finalists were introduced. His plan was to tweak some things from the qualifying session and wow the judges with his height and difficulty of the routine.

"I felt there was a lot I could have improved upon and I knew the mistakes I'd made and I was ready to correct them," he said. "It's just that I didn't get there."

There were pockets of flag-waving Canadian fans spread out around the 20,000-seat venue. One female fan tried to lift Burnett's spirits by bellowing out, "We love you Jason," as the crowd gave him a nice round of applause.

The 25-year-old from Nobleton, Ont., was still in fairly good spirits after the competition. He plans to take a couple of months off before looking ahead to the Rio Games in 2016.

"Sometimes the day doesn't go as you hoped," Burnett said with a shrug.

Canadians Karen Cockburn of Stouffville, Ont., and Rosie MacLennan of King City, Ont., will compete in women's trampoline on Saturday.

Earlier on HuffPost:

Loading Slideshow...

  • Closing Ceremony

    Christine Sinclair carried the flag for Canada and the hosts staged another star-studded show to close off the London Games.

  • Party Time

    Canada's athletes celebrate at the Olympic Closing Ceremony. (Frank Gunn/CP)

  • Canada's Flagbearer

    Christine Sinclair carries the flag for Canada at the Olympic Closing Ceremony. (CP/Frank Gunn)

  • They're Back

    British band 'The Spice Girls' perform during the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

  • Posh At The Games

    Victoria Beckham performs as Posh Spice with British band The Spice Girls during the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

  • Strut Their Stuff

    British model Naomi Campbell, fourth right, walks with other models during the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

  • Still Got It

    Brian May, guitarist of the British rock band Queen, performs during the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

  • Baby, You're A Firework

    Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

  • Wavin' Flag

    The Olympic flag is handed over to the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, the host of the 2016 Olympic Games. (AP)

  • Soak It All In

    French athletes sit and watch as the Olympic Closing Ceremony come to a close. (AP)

  • Hometown Pride

    An athlete holds up the British flag during the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

  • Day 16

    And after 16 days or winning, losing, scoring and missing, the London Games have come to an end. Canada's medal count remained at 18, while the U.S. would go on to to win a gold in men's basketball. Russia defeated Brazil in men's volleyball to take home a gold and the Italian men's water polo team fell to their Croatian counterparts to secure a silver medal.

  • Spain's Got Game

    Spain's Sergio Llull reacts during the men's gold medal basketball game against USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London.

  • Kiss The Podium

    Members of the gold medallist team from Russia kiss the podium during the rhythmic gymnastics group all-around final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London.

  • Alekno's In The Air

    Members of team Russia lift their coach, Vladimir Alekno, into the air after defeating Brazil in a men's gold medal volleyball match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London.

  • Right Jab To the Face

    Russia's Egor Mekhontcev, right, fights Kazakhstan's Adilbek Niyazymbetov in a light heavyweight 81-kg gold medal boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. Mekhontcev won the gold and Niyazymbetov won the silver.

  • Marathon Men

    Gold-medalist Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda, left, competes with Kenya's bronze-medalist Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich, center, and silver-medalist Abel Kirui in the men's marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London.

  • Pink And In Sync

    The team from Russia performs during the rhythmic gymnastics group all-around final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London.

  • Elation

    Cuba's Robeisy Ramirez Carrazana reacts after being declared the winner over Mongolia's Tugstsogt Nyambayar in their flyweight 52-kg gold medal boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London.

  • Viva Italia

    Italy's Emanuele Birarelli (15) reacts following the final point of a 3-1 win over Bulgaria in the men's bronze medal volleyball match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London.

  • There's A Reason The Call Him King James

    United States' LeBron James dunks during a men's gold medal basketball game against Spain at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London.

  • The Smell Of Sweet, Sweet Victory

    Croatia's Ivan Buljubasic sniffs his flowers after receiving his gold medal at the men's water polo gold medal ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. Croatia beat Italy 8-6 in the gold medal game.

  • DAY 15

    Canada wins yet another bronze medal in men's K1 200m kayak event, and Mexico defeats Brazil for the gold medal in men's soccer. Canada had an another Olympic upset and lost the bronze medal in the 4x100 relay due to a disqualification. Jamaica set a world record.

  • Tearin' Up Our Hearts

    Canada's Justyn Warner is comforted after the team was disqualified from third place in the men's 4x100-meter relay.

  • Jamaican Us Crazy

    Jamaica's Usain Bolt reacts as he finishes ahead of United States' Ryan Bailey in the men's 4 x 100-meter relay.

  • XOXO

    Britain's Mo Farah kisses the track after winning gold in the men's 5000-meter final during the athletics.

  • Love On Top

    Sharif Sharifov of Azerbaijan celebrates after he beat Jaime Yusept Espinal of Puerto Rico for the gold medal during the men's 84-kg freestyle wrestling competition.

  • Race Walk It Out

    Russia's Elena Lashmanova celebrates winning the women's 50-kilometer race walk.

  • Spike!

    United States mb Foluke Akinradewo, left, and Destinee Hooker react during the women's gold medal volleyball match against Brazil.

  • Buck Off

    Hwang Woojin, of South Korea, and his horse Shearwater Oscar, fall down after the horse bucked after the starting bell sounded to start their run in the equestrian show jumping stage of the men's modern pentathlon.

  • Sailing Away

    From left to right Spain's Elliot 6m crew Angela Pumariega, Sofia Toro Prieto, and Tamara Echegoyen celebrate after winning the gold medal at the London 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in Weymouth and Portland, England. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

  • Oro

    Mexico's Hector Herrera (6) and Mexico's Oribe Peralta (9) celebrate winning the gold medal with teammates in the men's soccer final against Brazil.

  • Mistakes Happen

    Bronze medallist Belarus' Liubou Charkashyna cries after a performance during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around final.

  • Gold Medal Ribbon

    Russia's Daria Dmitrieva performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around final.

  • Settles For Seventh

    Canada's Catharine Pendrel (2) competes in the Mountain Bike Cycling women's race.

  • Australia's Got Talent

    Australia's Jared Tallent competes in the men's 50-kilometer race walk.

  • Express Yourself

    Jake Herbert of the United State competes against Sharif Sharifov of Azerbaijan (in blue) during the men's 120-kg freestyle wrestling competition.

  • Splash Zone

    Amro El Geziry of Egypt, left, and Nicholas Woodbridge of Great Britain swim the 200-meter freestyle during the swimming portion of the men's modern pentathlon.

  • Fencing Is Modern

    Britain's Samuel Weale looks up during the fencing section of the men's modern pentathlon.

  • DAY 14

    Canada wins another bronze in men's open-water marathon and placed 4th in synchronized swimming. U.S. women's team set a world record in the 4 x 100 relay and Bahamas beat the men's team in the last stretch of the race.

  • Blade Runner

    South Africa's Oscar Pistorius competes in the men's 4x400-meter relay final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium.

  • Bahamas FTW

    Bahamas' Ramon Miller beats United States' Angelo Taylor across the line to win the men's 4 x 400-meter relay.

  • WOOOOAH

    France's Renaud Lavillenie clears the bar in the men's pole vault final during the athletics.

  • Going Down..

    Kenya's Hellen Onsando Obiri leaps over United States' Morgan Uceny during the women's 1500-meter final during the athletics.

  • United States' Morgan Uceny reacts after falling during the women's 1500-meter final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza)

  • Throw It Up

    South Korea's head coach Hong Myung-bo is hoisted up by his players after the team won their men's soccer bronze medal match.

  • They've Got The Beat

    The team from Russia performs during the rhythmic gymnastics group all-around qualifications at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

  • Bump, Set, Boom

    Bulgaria's Viktor Yosifov (12) spikes home a point against Russia during a men's volleyball semifinal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

  • Ouch!

    Brazil's Squel Stein is carried off the field in a stretcher during a BMX cycling women's semifinal run at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London. Stein fell off her bike after she landed on the grass following a big jump in the first half of the course. The 21-year-old Stein secured her best result in a major competition earlier this year when she reached the world championships final. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

  • Underwater Cam

    The team from Russia competes during the synchronized swimming team free routine final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. Russia won the gold medal in the event. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Open Water

    Swimmers dive into the Serpentine to start the men's 10-kilometer marathon swimming competition in Hyde Park at the 2012 Summer Olympics Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)