This discipline is extremely spectacular and
requires dynamic reactions, spatial awareness, co-ordination, power,
strength and courage. The action takes no more than a few seconds but
requires years of hard work. The gymnast gains speed and power by running
along a 25- metre track and performing a series of somersaults and twists.
Top class tumblers perform no less than two double somersaults in one run,
the best of them three, with twisting elements in addition.
At the 1974 FIT World Championships
the discipline TUMBLING was introduced as an exhibition sport and two
years later tumbling was added to the FIT disciplines.
>> WCh TUMBLING
Winners ALL
It consisted of five
tumbling passes and it was competed on 84-foot long panel mats. For years, the FIT and the IFSA
competed in their versions of tumbling at their World
Championships. Some countries adopted and competed with IFSA
tumbling while other countries went with the FIT tumbling, and
some countries competed in both.
In 1981, the World Games
adopted tumbling into its competitions. Tumbling continues to be
competed at the World Games every four years.
In
1999, the FIT merged with the International Gymnastics
Federation F.I.G..
All international tumbling competitions are currently housed under
the FIG as one of the disciplines of the Sport of Trampoline.
Through the years the sport of
tumbling was competed on gym floors, panel mats, ski floor, and
spring floors, and is now competed on a rod floor.
Today's competitors complete passes with up to three double
somersaults and double somersaults with twists, and even triple
somersaults.
