History of Trampoline Gymnastics

It was the safety net used by trapeze artists that set engineer inventor George NISSEN (USA) thinking back in the 1930’s. A Professor of Physical Education, this diving and tumbling champion builds the first folding trampoline prototype in his garage by attaching a piece of canvas to a hinged metallic frame using elastic cords.

The trampoline is born! The word Trampoline is derived from the words “trampling” and “board”. Over time, the substantive becomes trampolining, and finally trampoline. The discipline contributes in an originally playful way to the improvement of an athlete’s physical and psychological well-being. It particularly lends to a better understanding of one’s body in space. In Artistic Gymnastics it was the seventh event as it was used as a major training aid.

Success within the United States was immediate.

The first national championships of the USA are held in 1948. In 1955, Trampoline makes its way to the Pan-American Games and finally to Europe through the discipline’s Swiss pioneer, Kurt Baechler, deceased in 2003. Another great pioneer who promoted the discipline was Ted Blake of Great Britain.

Scotland was the first in Europe to create its own National Federation (1958). On March 4, 1964, the Fédération Internationale de Trampoline (FIT) was established in Frankfurt a/ Main (GER). René Schaerer (SUI) was elected President and Erich Kinsel was elected Secretary General. On March 21 of the same year, the Royal Albert Hall in London hosted the first World Championships. Judy Wills and Dan Millmann (USA) are the first world champions. The programme consisted of trampoline and tumbling for both men and women.  The first appearance of DMT and the Age Group competition were in 1970 in Picketts Lock in London.

Trampoline Gymnastics literally explodes! In 1985, the discipline finds itself on the programme of the World Games in London (GBR). In 1988, the FIT is a recognised IOC Federation. Trampoline begins to consider the Olympic Games and thus makes a fundamental change.

The FIT is dissolved and on January 1, 1999. Trampoline becomes a discipline of the FIG (Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique).

The former FIT President Ron Froehlich (USA) becomes a FIG Executive Committee Member and Horst Kunze (GER) retains Presidency of the Technical Committee. On September 22, 2000 at 8:40 pm, these two men have the honour of presenting the first Olympic medal in the History of Trampoline to Irina Karavaea and Alexander Moskalenko (RUS), amid cheers from the public at the Sydney SuperDome, watched by George Nissen, who later during the FIG Gala, was brought to the podium and received the true acknowledgment as the creator.

Trampoline (both Individual and Synchronised) is a sport reserved for the elite. It is a sport that represents liberty, flight and space. The numerous and complicated jumps and twists, carried out at about 8 meters high, require technical mastery, perfect body control and harmonious movements. As a basic for all kinds of training, trampoline is practised in every discipline that contains acrobatic elements. In its essence, Trampoline is a spectacular discipline that embodies courage, elegance, daring and youth.

Tumbling
Tumbling is characterised by the complex, swift and rhythmical succession of acrobatic jumps from hands to feet, feet to hands or even feet directly back onto feet in a matter of 6 seconds and on a mat 25 meters long.

Tumbling is a colourful sport that offers spectacular elements such as speed, rhythm and twists. A surprising cocktail of controlled virtuosity and energy.

Double Mini Trampoline
A sport that comes from Minitramp, DMT allows for more acrobatics. With a running jump, a gymnast performs an element on the apparatus, followed by another before landing on the mat. Top athletes perform spectacular double or triple summersaults with twist.

Conclusion
The Trampoline is still in evolution and wins every year more market shares. In December 2004 for the first time in its history, the discipline organised its Final for the World Cup on the African Continent in Alger (ALG)