 |
 |
| History Of Trampolining Who were the first trampolinists? The first variation of trampolining was probably when Eskimos used to toss each other into the air on walrus skins. Evidence also shows that the English used to do the same sort of thing using blankets! These two variations aren’t particularly like the sport we know, but they are possibilities as to where trampolining originated from. Walrus skin tossing, anyone? Hmm…appealing! Du Trampolin? You might mistake this for an order to start bouncing (do trampoline, rather posh however!)- but I’d forgive you if you did! In fact, this is the man (I presume a man anyway, as I never came across a gender…) who gave trampolines their name! Du Trampolin was an artist who had an amazing idea to use trapeze safety nets from the circus as a device to bounce on! His creation- which was finally reduced to a more suitable size for individuals to use- enabled circus performers to turn double and triple somersaults by the late 1800s! The guy we can probably thank for making trampolining a more well-known sport and introducing it to others went by the name George Nissen. He made a trampoline in his garage in the 1930s- clever guy- and used it to help with diving and tumbling activities. He decided to entertain others with his performances- good going George! These first trampolines had a plain nylon bed with rubber cables attaching it to the frame. It was soon discovered that trampolines could be made better by putting holes into the bed. Trampolines, believe it or not, had a role in World War Two! Although not fighting in the Front Line, they helped pilots during training. Apparently, they provided orientation practice and also helped achieve body positions in flight! Soon, it was realised by Physical Education peeps in the USA that trampolining had a lot of physical benefits, which were made more evident during the war years…and so, trampolining was introduced into schools! However, some people thought that the sport was too dangerous for schools and reduced the bouncibility of them (is that a word? T’is now!) Anyway, they did this so that it was much safer, though you couldn’t bounce as high- spoilsports! Competitions were first held in schools and colleges in the US (and later, in Europe). The first World Championships were held in London in 1964! - the first ever televised British Championships were in England in 1958. Soon after the first World Championships, the International Trampoline Federation was formed, and in 1965 it was recognised as the governing body for the sport. European and World Championships began to take place every alternate year (odds for the European, evens for the World!) The Americans dominated the World Championships in the beginning, due to it being included in their school curriculum, but their was a decline in performance levels after less trampolining was allowed in schools due to many law suits over it. Europeans gradually began to dominate the sport The governing body for trampolining was quite recently changed, and is now under F.I.G.- Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique- as of 1999. And in Sydney 2000 (Olympics), trampolining became “Olympic”!!! So, that’s the history, now get bouncing! |
Click on a link to navigate
|