British Gymnastics

Formed in 1888 British Gymnastics is one of the oldest and most respected governing bodies in the world. It covers a wide range of disciplines and activities, and is the UK Governing Body for the sport.

With over 100,000 members and more than 1,000 gym clubs in the country, the aim of British Gymnastics is to provide the best service, education, financial base, programmes, competitions and promotional opportunities for the development and future growth of the sport.

British Gymnastics offers coaching courses and judging qualifications at various levels, ensuring that the depth of knowledge that has been built from the contribution of several generations is passed on to future gymnasts.

The Association has a comprehensive membership structure and offers Development programmes through a series of Proficiency Awards and Reward schemes.

Becoming a member of British Gymnastics ensures that the necessary insurance cover is in place and advice on health, safety and welfare is available. Joining a recommended British Gymnastics club will provide you with all the required coaching and also give you access to award programmes and competitions.

Today, British Gymnastics operates from the extensive and idyllic grounds of the Lilleshall National Sports Centre and offers state of the art facilities.

Under the overall description of gymnastics lie the individual disciplines and activities of: Men’s Artistic Gymnastics, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Trampolining, (all of the above being Olympic disciplines) and also Tumbling, Acrobatics, Aerobics, General Gymnastics and Gymnastics & Movement for People with Disabilities (GMPD).

As a member of the World Governing Body for Gymnastics (FIG) and the European Governing Body for Gymnastics (UEG), British Gymnastics works closely with them in organising, running and participating in events, including the Olympic Games.

TUMBLING

It is a little known fact that TUMBLING was a competitive sport at the 1932 Olympic games in Los Angeles. The name of the first (and last! so far) Olympic Champion is Roland Wolf (USA).

This exiting and extremely spectacular gymnastics discipline was part of the Gala Olympic performances in both Atlanta’96 and Sydney 2000. The hope is that Tumbling will regain Olympic status in the near future. Should it really happen, Great Britain would be in excellent position to win further prestige and medals.

ABOUT THE SPORT

Tumbling is a gymnastics discipline requiring high jumping abilities, space orientation, co- ordination, power, strength and courage. It is an extremely dynamic sport- the real action takes no more than a few seconds, but requires years of hard work. The gymnast gains speed and power running on the 25-metres long track, and then performs series of somersaults and twists depending on his/her abilities. The top class tumblers perform nowadays no less than two double somersaults in one run; the best of them – even three, with twisting elements in addition.

A BIT OF HISTORY

• National Championships in Tumbling first held in 1922 in Russia.
• Olympic Games 1932, Los Angeles- competitive discipline
• In the ’60 and ’70 is most popular in Eastern Europe, then gradually spreading strongly in Western Europe, the USA, Asia and Australia.
• First World Championships- held in Moscow in 1974.
• 1995- Vasily Skakoun (RUS) invents the so-called “ski track” (northern disciplines type skis are put together and covered with appropriate material. This was a revolution in the development of the sport. The improved elasticity of the track led to improved technique of performance and helped raising the difficulty.
• Skakun’s son, Vadim, worked as a National coach for Tumbling for Great Britain for several years (up to 2005) and achieved historic results- he brought both our Men’s and Women’s Teams to the World Team Titles in 2003.
• Great Britain was one of the founder- countries of the IFSA (International Sports Acrobatics Federation) in 1973.
• Tumbling belonged to Sports Acrobatics structures until 1998. Since then, it is under the Trampolining structure (i.e. part of the FIG TRA/TC). (Surely not a bad situation, considering the fact that Trampolining celebrated its Olympic debut in Sydney 2000).

GREATEST FIGURES IN BRITISH TUMBLING

• Philippa Musikant- the first British female tumbler who won a number of medals for Great Britain at major International events.
• Ian Matthews, Craig Lawther- one of the most respected “pioneers”, who won medals a prestige on the men’s side.
• Kathryn Peberdy- 1997 World All-around Tumbling Champion
• Robert Small- 1998 European All-around Champion, Bronze medal at the World Championships’99
• The British Men’s and Women’s Team became World Champions in 2003
• Samantha Palmer- 2006 European Champion and winner in the World Cup 2005/2006 World Cup Final

TRAMPOLINE

From observing the fall of trapeze artists into the safety net, George Nissen (USA) started to develop ideas for the trampoline. Physical Education Professor and champion in diving and tumbling, he constructs the first trampoline prototype in his garage in the 1930’s by binding a piece of canvas to a metal frame using elastic bands. The trampoline is born.

The word Trampoline most probably originates from the combination of the two words “trampling” and “board” (diving board). With use, the word becomes trampolining, and finally trampoline.

Trampolining (individual or synchronised) is an elite sport, a discipline symbolizing freedom, flying, space harmoniously associated with boldness, elegance and precision. The multiple somersaults and twists at a height of about 8 meters require a fine technique, perfect body control and most aesthetic movements. The Trampoline is used as a basic training device for all sports which contain acrobatic elements. Trampolining is spectacular. It combines courage, elegance, agility, magic, youth.

Further information can be obtained by contacting Bristish Gymnastics:

Website: british-gymnastics.org

Registered Office: Ford Hall, Lilleshall National Sport Centre, Newport, Shropshire. TF10 9NB.
Tel: 0845 1297129
Fax: 0845 1249089

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