A gymnast’s tumbling run consists of eight elements performed in rapid-fire succession, one after the other. These elements, mostly whip backs or back handsprings, are punctuated up to three times during the routine with a special, high-flying skill of great difficulty.
A cartwheel in which the gymnast lands on two feet going backwards. Almost always the first skill in a tumbling pass, and used in order to gain backward momentum for the elements to come.
A back flip in which the hands touch the ground. Most often used as a connecting element that allows the gymnast to gain backward momentum for the elements to come.
A quick, tight back flip done in a straight body position. Whip backs are not “big air” skills. Rather, they are used to connect big elements and gather momentum so the gymnast can launch themselves into harder skills.
Two flips done in a straight body position. Double layouts are often seen at the end of a pass, but the best tumblers also do them in the middle of their run.
A triple twisting double layout, considered one of the hardest elements a tumbler can do. The “triple double” is named after Trampoline World champion Wayne Miller (USA), who first achieved the skill on a trampoline during the 1960s!
A complex tumbling move in which the gymnast flips three times before landing on his or her feet. Only the most advanced tumblers in the world will attempt a triple back. If they go for it, it will be at the end of the first tumbling pass.
