How were trampolines invented?

Introduction 

     Do you want to know how trampolines are made and the history of them?  You can learn about them right here!  George Nissen created the legendary large bouncing pad in 1934 because he was inspired by circus performers.  Back then, trampolines were used for training, not for jumping on and having fun like today.  They are so famous and fun 90 years later, after he made this legendary invention!  

Inspired by the Circus

     16-year-old George Nissen was at a circus back in 1930. He was watching a trapeze show, but the thing that grabbed his attention was the safety net. After every routine, the performers would fall onto the net, and the net made them spring them back up in the air. George said to himself, "That looks fun." This was George Nissen's inspiration to make the trampoline.

     After some hard work, George made his invention the best he could. He started a company to produce them, so George would sell them and eventually make millions of dollars.

The Bouncing Rig

     After George came home from the circus, he started to work on the creation of the trampoline. For his first attempt, George stretched a canvas around the frame that was made of steel. If the frame or base isn’t there the trampoline won’t be able to hold anything that’s put on it. He named his first invention, "the bouncing rig."

Spanish Diving Board

     Have you ever jumped on something called "the bouncing rig?" Neither have I! George came up with a much more popular name for his invention a few years later. He changed the name bouncing rig to trampoline, which comes from the Spanish word for diving board, "trampolin."

Trampoline History

     George kept working to improve the design of his invention. In 1936, George Nissen and Larry Griswold invented the first modern trampoline. George also invented the trampoline for another reason: he was also inspired by a GYMNAST!

     In 1942 Larry Griswold and George Nissen started the Griswold and Nissen Trampoline Company. Initially, the trampoline was first used for training, not recreational use like today. The trampoline was especially useful to train gymnasts.

      After the trampoline was made and used for training, people also discovered it was a lot of fun. People started jumping on trampolines just for fun. 

     In the 1950s and 1960s, indoor trampoline parks were introduced. In the 1970s,  jump centers were introduced. Trampolines can also be found in backyards all across America.

olympics and world championships

     Telence Blake of the Nissen Trampoline Company organized the first Trampoline World Championships in 1964 in London, United Kingdom.  Since 2000, Trampolines were also introduced to the Olympic Games. In 2008, when he was 94 years old, George Nissen got to test the trampoline at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Conclusion

     In conclusion, I think George Nissen made something that took lots of creativity, time and effort, and will last a lifetime! If you put lots of effort into the things that you love to do, you can bring something special into the world.  

     Who knows what will inspire you? George Nissen started as a teenager going to the circus. This inspired him to make his invention of the trampoline, which has brought smiles and thrills to millions of people.