When the trampoline was invented by a young boy intrigued
by the ability of aerialists to bounce in a net and perform
artistic maneuvers while they did so, it literally became
the "springboard" for a whole new sport.

George Nissen, who was a tumbler and gymnast himself, took
the sports to a whole new height by putting them on canvas
strung in a metal frame. Over the years, the canvas has
been replaced by nylon weave, and the frames are made
lighter and more stable. And the sport has evolved to
incorporate elements of gymnastics, ballet, and even
diving.

Trampolines first became available to the public through
entertainment venues where you paid for a ticket to bounce
around for a specified time. Eventually, they found their
way into schools, then gyms, then into organized
associations as a real, and challenging competitive sport.

While the world championships allow for a variety of
competitions, including team events, and synchronized
trampoline routines where two people perform on separate
equipment, the Olympics at this time, recognizes only the
individual skills event.

A set of ten skills must be performed in two voluntary
qualifying routines, and in the final routine for the eight
qualifying competitors. These skills may include such
maneuvers as front and back somersaults, with or without a
twist.

Competitors must submit a card listing the elements of the
first qualifying voluntary routine, no less than 48 hours
before competition starts. The routine must then be
performed with the same elements, and in the same order as
listed.

In the second qualifying round and the finals, competitors
are free to vary the order, and type of skills, which
allows the opportunity to increase the routine's degree of
difficulty.

A total of nine judges will sit for each competition: a
chair, an assistant chair, two judges who will mark only
the degree of difficulty, and five who will mark only the
execution of the routine.

About the Author
Paul Johnson works as a software developer, often working
long hours under great stress. He considers exercise
crucial to his health. When purchasing his own fintess
equipment he researched all available products. Now he's
written a series of useful articles on choosing (and using)
exercise equipment.