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Trampoline Gymnastics - London Olympics 2012

Prepare to be dazzled by the athletes in the Trampoline competition at the London 2012 Games, the newest of the three Gymnastics disciplines to have arrived on the Olympic programme.

Did you know?

The trampolines used at the Games will be 5.05 metres long, 2.91m wide and 1.155m high. The spring ‘bed’ is made from nylon or string material and is only about 6mm thick.

A total of 324 gymnasts will compete in the three disciplines in the Olympic sport of Gymnastics – Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampoline.

The word ‘Gymnastics’ comes from the Greek adjective ‘gymnos’, meaning ‘naked’: early gymnasts used to perform without any clothes.

The inventors of the trampoline created several games, including Spaceball where two teams would compete on a trampoline with specially constructed end walls and try to propel a ball through a central wall to hit a target on the other side.

Key facts

Venue: North Greenwich Arena
Dates: Friday 3 – Saturday 4 August
Medal events: 2
Athletes: 32

Devised in the 1930s at the University of Iowa, the first modern trampoline was initially used as a training tool for tumblers, astronauts and athletes. However, it grew in popularity to such an extent that in 1964, the first ever Trampoline World Championships were held at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Since making its Olympic debut at the Sydney Games in 2000, the sport has consistently featured awe-inspiring displays of acrobatic excellence, with athletes springing to heights of up to 10m.

The basics

Gymnasts perform a series of short routines, which contain a variety of twists, bounces and somersaults. Precise technique and perfect body control are vital for success, with judges delivering marks for difficulty, execution and flight time.

Each individual competition for men and women features two phases: the qualification round and the final round. Athletes perform two routines in the qualification round. The eight athletes with the best scores advance to the finals for one more routine, which determines the results of the competition.

Olympic Trampoline Gymnastics, past and present

Trampoline Gymnastics is a relative newcomer on the Olympic programme: it made its debut at Sydney in 2000. At London 2012, the competition will be held at the state-of-the-art North Greenwich Arena on the River Thames, which will also host the Artistic Gymnastics competition and the closing stages of the Basketball tournament.

Jargon buster

Adolph: A front somersault with 3½ twists.
Barani: A front somersault with a half-twist.
Fliffus: A double somersault with at least a half-twist.
Quadriffus: A quadruple somersault with at least a half-twist.
Rudolph: A front somersault with 1½ twists, sometimes known as a 'Rudy'.

Get involved

You may be able to join a club or class at your local leisure centre. VisitBritish Gymnastics , Active Places and the International Gymnastics Federation for more on the sport.