Trampoline History
The Development of the Sport
The sports of trampolining and tumbling are as old as man, a reflection of man's desire to defy the ever-pervading presence of gravity.
A number of cultures have devised apparatus to send an athlete into the air, i.e., an outstretched animal skin being used to throw up, and safely receive, the descending performer. Circuses have used a number of devices to show off aerial and floor somersault activity.
The way the activities are now practiced reflect the intrusion, delightful in this instance, of modern technology. Modern trampolining has only emerged in the last 49-50 years from the prototype apparatus built by George Nissen, USA, in his garage in 1936. The Air Force, and later the Space Agencies were not slow to employ trampolines with their pilots and astronauts. Medical authorities and those working with handicapped persons have found many exciting benefits from being able to use a trampoline. At the recreational level trampolining has an immediate appeal, especially for the young people.
Every era produces at least one step forward in the sophistication of a trampoline machine used. The most modern ones are capable of projecting an athlete to such a height that the top stars can touch 10m-high ceilings and perform repetition triple somersaults with ease.
Competitive activity commenced in the USA at the conclusion of World War II. The activity spread to Europe in the 1950's and display teams took the activity to all continents in the late 1950's and early 1960's, when many national federations were formed.
In 1964, the International Trampoline Federation (FIT) was formed with 7 founder member federations. There are at present 42 member federations.
Championship activity has developed and grown continuously year after year. Annual World Championships were held from 1964, though since 1968 they have been held every other year, with European Championships, started in 1969, and Pan Pacific Championships, started in 1981, occurring the alternative years. European Youth Championships have been held every other year since 1972, and the introduction of the World Cup event in 1993 has seen a tremendous interest in the sport, with the television companies giving live coverage to most events throughout the 1993-94 series. Trampolining and Tumbling have been World Games sports since 1981. Plans are well in hand for the introduction of the Asian Championships and Pan-American Championships in 1994. The World Age-Group Games, held in the same year as the World Championships attract a large entry, anything between 400-800- athletes!
In Trampolining USA athletes took many titles in the early days, though a number of nations have since shared in the top honors, especially athletes from the former Soviet Union. USA, France, and Poland are strong in Tumbling, whilst Germany, Australia and laterally, New Zealand, have shown their strength in Double-Mini Trampolining, the third of the three FIT disciplines.
Tumbling's competitive roots go back even further than that of Trampolining. It was even an Olympic Sport in 1932 when F. Wolfe, USA, was the winner. It was in 1976 that the FIT introduced Tumbling to its disciplines.
The third FIT discipline is Double-Mini Trampolining, which has only emerged as a branch of Trampolining since the mid 1970's.
The FIT has an office based in Moutier, Switzerland. To run the activity of the Federation, there is a 5 strong Presidential Committee, a 10 strong Executive, and a 7 strong Technical Committee. Recent developments have seen the introduction of both a Medical Commission and a Promotions Commission. Congresses, at which all member federations can attend, are held in conjunction with all World Championships. Elections are held every 4 years.
In 1983 the first FIT Handbook was introduced, and in 1987 the FIT News appeared, followed in 1988 by the FIT Calendar.
Source: FIT press information at World Championships 1994 in Porto/POR