Gymnastics 🇺🇸United States Olympic20th century

Trampoline Gymnastics

Gymnastics discipline — athletes perform aerial acrobatics on trampoline. Invented 1936 by George Nissen + Larry Griswold (Iowa). Olympic since Sydney 2000 (individual + synchronized). Athletes reach 8+ meters height performing multiple twisting somersaults. China + Russia + Belarus dominant.

📐trampoline⏱~1 min🌤indoor

What is Trampoline Gymnastics?

Trampoline Gymnastics is competitive discipline where athletes perform aerial acrobatics on trampolines. INVENTED 1936 by GEORGE NISSEN + LARRY GRISWOLD at University of Iowa — inspired by circus trapeze safety nets. Named after Spanish 'trampolín' (diving board). US Navy WWII used for pilot training. Sport formalized 1948 first US Nationals; FIG (Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique) recognized 1998. OLYMPIC since SYDNEY 2000 (individual only initially; synchronized added 2004). MODERN COMPETITION: (1) INDIVIDUAL routines — 10 skills performed in sequence. (2) SYNCHRONIZED trampoline — 2 athletes side-by-side performing identical skills. (3) TEAM events. TRAMPOLINE dimensions: 5.05m × 2.91m; bed suspended by 118 springs; rebound height 8+ m possible. SKILLS: SOMERSAULTS (single, double, triple, quad rotation) + TWISTS combined into complex combinations (e.g., 'triple-twisting double back'). SCORING: (1) EXECUTION — 20 max. (2) DIFFICULTY — sum of skill difficulty. (3) TIME OF FLIGHT — Olympic added 2015 (measures actual time in air; rewards higher jumps). (4) HORIZONTAL DISPLACEMENT (HD) since 2016 — penalty for drifting from center. TOTAL SCORE = execution + difficulty + time + HD penalty. TOP NATIONS: CHINA (dominant modern; Dong Dong, He Wenna Olympic golds), RUSSIA (Alexander Moskalenko 4× World Champion, Anna Dogonadze), BELARUS (Ivan Litvinovich 2020 Olympic gold), CANADA (Rosannagh MacLennan 2× Olympic gold 2012, 16), JAPAN (Ginga Munetomo). Related: DOUBLE MINI-TRAMPOLINE + POWER TUMBLING (also FIG governed, not Olympic).

Quick facts

How it works

Objective

Perform routine of 10 skills with maximum execution + difficulty + flight time + minimum displacement.

Match structure

Olympic: qualifying → final. World Championships: individual + synchronized + team events.

Rules

Basic rules

10 skills per routine
Athletes perform 10 aerial skills in sequence without pause.
Judges score execution (0-2 deductions)
Poor form, bent knees, arm position = deductions.
Difficulty score adds each skill's D-score
Higher-rotation skills = higher difficulty.
Time of Flight (ToF) measured (since 2015)
Actual time in air; higher jumps = more time = higher score.
Horizontal Displacement (HD) penalty (since 2016)
Drifting from center of trampoline = point deduction.
Land on bed (not spring pads)
Landing on padded areas = major deduction or elimination.

Advanced rules

Somersault + twist combinations
e.g., 'triple twisting double back' = 2 backward somersaults + 3 twists simultaneously.
Full-in vs half-in twist positions
Timing of twist (early vs late in somersault) affects difficulty.
Compulsory + optional routines (championships)
Some events require specific skills; others allow free choice.
Synchronized scoring
Both athletes perform identical routines; sync score based on timing precision.
Warm-up routines mandatory
10-20 min bounce time before competition; injury prevention.
Age eligibility
Olympic min age 16 (senior); junior categories exist.

Scoring

Execution + Difficulty + Time of Flight − Horizontal Displacement = final score. Elite scores 55-65.

Action	Points
Execution (perfect)	20 max (10 skills × 2 pts each; deductions accumulate)
Difficulty (D-score)	0.1-2.0+ per skill; sum across 10
Time of Flight (ToF)	1 sec per second airborne (typically 16-19 sec total)
Horizontal Displacement (HD)	-0.1 to -1.0 penalty for drifting
Elite score	55-65 total for top athletes
World record scores	68+ (Dong Dong China)

Win condition · Highest total score in final routine.

Playing area

Called

trampoline

Dimensions

5.05m × 2.91m bed; suspended by 118 springs; 1.15m from ground

FIG-standard trampoline; nylon or webbed bed; steel frame; safety pads around edges.

Equipment

FIG trampoline
5.05m × 2.91m; €5-15K.
Leotard / gymnastics attire
Tight-fitting; €30-150.
Gymnastics socks / bare feet
Athletes typically barefoot.
Safety pads around frame
Cover springs + prevent injury from missed landings.
Overhead spotting rig (training)
Bungee cord safety system for learning new skills.
Video analysis system
Coach + athlete review routines.

Officiating

FIG-certified judges; median execution score used (extremes discarded); electronic ToF + HD measurement.

Execution judges (5)
Difficulty judges (2)
Time of Flight measurement (electronic)
HD measurement (electronic)

Strategies

Master basic somersaults first
Front + back + side rotations before adding twists.
Progressive skill building
Add 1/2 twist per skill increment; never rush progression.
Safety spotting essential
Bungee rig for learning new skills; coach supervision critical.
Maximize Time of Flight
Higher bounces = more time = higher score. Efficient technique = more height.
Center-of-bed control
Horizontal Displacement penalty rewards central bouncing.
Sequence planning
Design 10-skill routine balancing difficulty + execution reliability.
Video review + coaching
Modern coaching relies on frame-by-frame analysis of skills.

Terminology

Trampoline: Spring-suspended bed for aerial gymnastics.
Somersault: Full body rotation forward or backward.
Twist: Rotation around body's longitudinal axis.
Full: Somersault with 1 twist.
Full-in / Half-in: Twist timing (early = full-in; late = full-out).
Triple back: 3 backward somersaults.
Quad: 4 rotations (extreme skill).
Time of Flight (ToF): Actual time airborne; scored since 2015.
Horizontal Displacement (HD): Drift from center; penalty since 2016.
D-score: Difficulty score per skill.
E-score: Execution score (20 max).
Bed: Suspended fabric surface of trampoline.
Springs: 118 springs suspending bed to frame.
Overhead rig / Bungee spot: Safety training system for new skills.
Synchronized trampoline: 2 athletes side-by-side identical routines.

Major competitions

Olympic Games Trampoline
quadrennial (since Sydney 2000) · worldwide · since 2000
FIG World Trampoline Championships
annual · worldwide · since 1964
FIG World Cup Series
annual · worldwide · since 2000
European Trampoline Championships
biennial · Europe · since 1969
US National Trampoline Championships
annual · USA · since 1948

Where it is played

Governing bodies

FIG (Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique)
Founded 1881 · Lausanne, Switzerland
Official site ↗
IOC (Olympics)
Founded 1894 · Lausanne
USA Gymnastics
Founded 1963 · USA

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

George Nissen (USA, 1914-2010) — Co-inventor 1936; 'Father of trampoline'
Larry Griswold (USA, 1907-1996) — Co-inventor 1936
Alexander Moskalenko (Russia, b. 1969) — 4× World Champion; 2000 Sydney Olympic silver
Rosannagh MacLennan (Canada, b. 1988) — 2× Olympic gold 2012 + 2016 (only 2× champion)
Dong Dong (China, b. 1989) — Olympic gold 2008; world record scores
He Wenna (China, b. 1989) — 2008 Beijing Olympic gold (women)
Ivan Litvinovich (Belarus, b. 2000) — 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold
Anna Dogonadze (Georgia/Germany, b. 1973) — 2004 Athens Olympic gold

Records

Trampoline invented
George Nissen + Larry Griswold — 1936 University of Iowa (1936)
First US Nationals
USA Trampoline Federation — 1948 (1948)
First FIG World Championships
FIG (established 1964) — 1964 London (1964)
FIG recognizes Trampoline
FIG — 1998 (1998)
First Olympic Trampoline
IOC (Sydney 2000) — 2000 Sydney (individual) (2000)
Only 2× Olympic gold
Rosannagh MacLennan (Canada) — 2012 London + 2016 Rio (women) (2016)
World record score
Dong Dong (China) — 68+ (varies per era) (2020)
Maximum height
Elite athletes — 8+ meters bounce height (2020)

Learn this sport

beginner

1
Recreational trampoline classes ($20-50/class)
Basic bounces + landings.
2
Structured club training
Learn straddle, tuck, pike shapes + basic somersaults.
3
USA Gymnastics Level 1-4 competitions
Entry-level; regional.

intermediate

1
USA Gymnastics Level 5-7
Double somersaults + basic twists.
2
National competitions
Level 8-10; regional to national travel.
3
Elite qualifying meets
Path to national team selection.

advanced

1
National team selection
Top 6-8 athletes; funded training + international competition.
2
World Championships + Olympic qualification
4-year cycle; only top nations qualify Olympic spots.
3
Olympic medal pursuit
Only 2 medals per Games (individual + synchronized).

Frequently asked

What is trampoline gymnastics?+

Gymnastics discipline where athletes perform aerial acrobatics on trampoline. Invented 1936 by George Nissen + Larry Griswold at University of Iowa. FIG recognized 1998; Olympic since Sydney 2000. Athletes reach 8+ meters bounce height performing multiple somersaults + twists in 10-skill routines. SCORING: Execution + Difficulty + Time of Flight − Horizontal Displacement. China + Russia + Belarus + Canada dominant. Only 2× Olympic champion: Rosannagh MacLennan (Canada, 2012 + 2016).

Who invented the trampoline?+

GEORGE NISSEN (USA, 1914-2010) + LARRY GRISWOLD (USA, 1907-1996) — invented modern trampoline 1936 at UNIVERSITY OF IOWA. Both were competitive divers + gymnasts; inspired by circus trapeze safety nets. Nissen coined name from SPANISH 'trampolín' (diving board). Founded NISSEN TRAMPOLINE COMPANY 1942 (world's leading manufacturer). US NAVY WWII used trampolines for PILOT TRAINING (spatial orientation). Modern sport formalized 1948 first US Nationals. Nissen also invented modern gymnastic vault + rebounder. Considered founding father of trampoline sport globally.

How high do Olympic trampolinists bounce?+

8+ METERS (25+ FEET) above trampoline bed. TIME OF FLIGHT (ToF) at Olympic level: 16-19 SECONDS TOTAL across 10 skills = average ~1.7 sec per skill in air. Physics: trampoline bed stretches ~1m downward; energy return propels athlete upward. Elite athletes generate additional height via TIMING (pushing off precisely at bed's return moment). Amateur trampolinists 2-4m bounces. Trampoline bed suspended by 118 SPRINGS providing calibrated rebound. Modern scoring (since 2015) rewards ToF specifically — higher jumps = higher scores. Considered dangerous if not properly trained; landing on frame pads = major injury risk.

What is synchronized trampoline?+

2 ATHLETES perform IDENTICAL ROUTINES SIDE-BY-SIDE. Added to Olympics 2004 (Athens). 2 SEPARATE TRAMPOLINES; athletes must be perfectly synchronized. SCORING: Execution + Difficulty + Time of Flight − Horizontal Displacement + SYNCHRONIZATION SCORE (how precisely timed). Skills must be same difficulty; slight timing differences = point deductions. Considered more technical than individual due to sync requirement. TOP TEAMS: China + Russia + Belarus historically dominant. Olympic separate medals from individual. Feminine + masculine synchronized events (mixed pairs not yet Olympic).

How dangerous is trampoline?+

SIGNIFICANT INJURY RISK. RECREATIONAL trampolines cause 100,000+ USA emergency room visits annually. COMPETITIVE trampoline safer due to training + safety equipment but still 5-10× higher injury rate than football. COMMON INJURIES: (1) SPRAINS/FRACTURES from bad landings. (2) NECK/SPINAL from failed somersaults. (3) COLLISIONS (multiple bouncers) — CAUSE OF MOST HOME INJURIES. (4) SPRINGS EDGE FALLS — landing on frame pads. PREVENTION: (1) Only ONE bouncer at time. (2) SAFETY NETS around trampoline. (3) LEARN skills progressively with COACHING + spotting rig. (4) NO SOMERSAULTS without training. (5) AVOID gyms without safety pads. AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends NO recreational trampoline use for children under 6. Competitive gymnastic trampoline (FIG-standard) considered safer than backyard variant due to spotting + coaching + supervision.

Sources & provenance

Wikipedia — Trampolining— Wikipedia
FIG Trampoline— FIG

Last verified 2026-08-25.verified