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Trampolining

sports Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Trampolining is a fast and exciting Olympic sport. Athletes use a stretchy bed to perform acrobatics. They bounce high to do somersaults and twists. This sport is part of gymnastics. It includes many different events like synchronized trampoline and tumbling.

Girls Synchro WAGC 2007
Girls Synchro WAGC 2007

In a competition, judges look at many things. They score how hard the moves are. They also count the total seconds spent in the air. Points are taken away for poor form. They also check if the athlete stays in the center of the bed.

An athlete follows a specific way to perform a routine. They must complete ten contacts with the trampoline bed. Every routine must start and end on the feet.

Filder Pokal 2018-06-30 Training 802
Filder Pokal 2018-06-30 Training 802

Athletes can use three basic shapes in the air. A tuck shape has knees clasped to the chest. A pike shape has straight legs and hands touching the feet. A straight shape keeps the body straight with toes pointed. Sometimes they use a "puck" shape which is a mix of pike and tuck.

WAGC DMT
WAGC DMT

The history of the sport began in the 1930s. George Nissen saw circus artists bounce off safety nets. He wanted to make those tricks smaller. He built the first modern trampoline in his garage. He used it to help with his own diving. He even used the word "trampolín" for his brand. This word is a Spanish term for a diving board.

World trampoline championships 1964
World trampoline championships 1964

The sport grew quickly in the United States and Europe.

Many people have made the sport famous over the years. The first World Championships were in London in 1964. Dan Millman and Judy Wills Cline were the first champions. In 1965, the International Trampoline Federation was officially recognized. Later, the sport joined the FIG in 1999. This helped it join the Summer Olympic Games in 2000.

A double mini trampoline
A double mini trampoline

Since then, countries like China have won many Olympic medals. China saw great success at the 2008 Beijing Games.

There are other ways to enjoy these skills. In synchronized trampoline, two people jump on side-by-side beds. They must perform the same routine at the same time. Another event is the double mini trampoline. This bed is smaller and has a sloped end.

WAGC DMT
WAGC DMT

Athletes run up the slope to gain height. Tumbling is also a popular gymnastics discipline. Instead of a trampoline, athletes use a long, sprung runway. They perform a series of flips and somersaults to a landing mat.

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🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:World trampoline championships 1964.JPEG
World trampoline championships 1964.JPEG
File:Girls Synchro WAGC 2007.jpg
Girls Synchro WAGC 2007.jpg
File:A double mini trampoline.jpg
A double mini trampoline.jpg
File:WAGC DMT.jpg
WAGC DMT.jpg
File:Filder Pokal 2018-06-30 Training 802.jpg
Filder Pokal 2018-06-30 Training 802.jpg
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