Trampoline gymnastics is a family of three disciplines: trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline (often called DMT). They share a focus on rotations and twists in the air, but each has its own equipment, routine structure and scoring details. Only trampoline is on the Olympic programme, where it has featured since the Sydney Games in 2000.
Trampoline
A competition trampoline is much larger and more powerful than a garden trampoline, with a bed of woven webbing that sends elite athletes several metres into the air.
The routine: ten consecutive skills, each starting and finishing on the bed, with no extra bounces in between. Skills combine somersaults and twists in tucked, piked and straight positions.
The score: a trampoline score combines several components:
| Component | What it measures |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | The value of the somersaults and twists performed |
| Execution | Form, body position and consistency |
| Time of flight | How long the athlete spends in the air across the routine |
| Horizontal displacement | How close each landing is to the centre of the bed |
Time of flight and horizontal displacement are measured electronically at major events. They reward height and control: a gymnast who drifts across the bed loses points even with clean form.
Synchronised trampoline: two athletes perform the same routine at the same time on two trampolines side by side. A synchronisation score is added, measuring how closely their landings match.
Tumbling
Tumbling takes place on a long, sprung track. Athletes sprint along a run-up and perform a pass of eight consecutive elements, usually starting with round-offs and flic-flacs and building to multiple twisting somersaults at the end.
What makes it hard: speed. Every element must flow into the next without losing momentum, and the final skill is performed at the highest speed of the pass. Landing that last element cleanly on the mat at the end of the track is the moment of truth.
What to watch: the rhythm of the pass. A good tumbling pass sounds even, with regular contacts on the track and no stutter.
Double mini-trampoline
The double mini is a small trampoline with two sections: a sloped end and a flat end. Athletes run in, jump onto the sloped section and perform their first skill, then either land on the flat section and immediately perform a second skill onto a landing mat (the "spotter" or "mounter" combination), or perform a skill from the bed directly to the mat.
The pass: two skills in total, scored on difficulty and execution. Landings carry heavy weight because there is nowhere to hide a stumble.
What to watch: the mount. Experienced viewers can tell a lot from the first take-off: a strong, centred mount leads to a controlled second skill.
Comparing the three
| Trampoline | Tumbling | Double mini | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | Large competition trampoline | Sprung track | Small two-part trampoline |
| Routine length | 10 skills | 8 elements | 2 skills |
| Olympic | Yes, since 2000 | No | No |
| Key quality | Height and control | Speed and rhythm | Precision at take-off and landing |
Getting started
Many clubs offer recreational trampoline sessions for children and adults. Competitive trampoline usually begins with a grading system, where gymnasts learn a set of basic skills before progressing to somersaults. Safety is central: qualified coaches, proper matting, spotting and a strict progression are essential. Garden trampolines are not suitable for learning somersaults.
Tumbling and DMT are offered by fewer clubs because they need specialist equipment, but they are popular in countries with a strong trampoline culture.
Why it is worth watching
Trampoline gymnastics is easy to follow and dramatic. The skills are big, the routines are short, and the scores reflect things the audience can see: height, centre landings and clean form. If you have never watched a trampoline final, start with the synchronised event; seeing two athletes mirror each other at the top of a ten-skill routine is something special.
See our Trampoline Gymnastics page and the archive entry for the 2020 European Championships planned for Gothenburg.
