A number of cultures have devised apparatus to send an athlete
into the air and safely receive, the descending performer.
Circuses have used a number of devices to show off aerial
and floor somersault activity.

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 quickly employed trampolines with thier
pilots and astronauts. The trampoline also found Medical
uses in helping the handicapped.  For recreational 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.

Competition began in the USA at the end of World War II.
Which spread to Europe in the 1950s and display teams took it
to all continents in the late 1950s and early 1960s,
which is when many national federations were formed.

In 1964, the International Trampoline Federation (FIT)
was formed with 7 member federations. Currently there are
42 member federations.

Activity has developed and grown continuously year after year.
Annual World Championships were held from 1964 though 1968
since then 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.

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!

USA athletes took many titles in the early days, now a number
of nations have since shared in the top honours, especially athletes
from the former Soviet Union. USA, France and Poland are
strong in Tumbling, 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.