Gymnastics: Kiwi trampolinist Dylan Schmidt out for the year

Dylan Schmidt. Photosport

Olympic trampolinist Dylan Schmidt is out of action for the rest of this year.

The Auckland student damaged an ACL joint in training and is due to go under the knife on March 23.

The 21-year-old finished seventh in the Rio Olympics of 2016, the first New Zealander to competed in the discipline at the Olympics.

He had sixth, fourth and second place finishes in World Cup events last year, but his promising career is on hold and he's determined not to rush back.

''I just landed awkwardly on my knee. It was a bit of a freak accident but that's the nature of sport,'' Schmidt said.

''I haven't had anything like this in 15 years so have to take it on the chin and work to get back to where I was.''

He is walking normally now but has been warned against trying to rush back into competition too soon.

''Initially I was devastated. It was pretty painful, definitely worse than I expected.

''Words can't describe the feeling of not being able to do what you love and I took it pretty hard.

''But everything is tracking well.''

Qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 starts next year and Schmidt is determined not to do anything to upset his plans to be ready for that period.

In the meantime he's picked up some university papers and playing a bit of golf to keep himself busy.

''My focus is on getting back into next year. But it's kind of weird not being as busy as I have been. My job now is to be the best patient I can be,'' Schmidt said.