George Nissen

Inventor and Gymnast George Nissen

Profession: Inventor and Gymnast

Nationality:
United States of America
American

Biography: George Nissen was an American gymnast, inventor, and businessman who is best known for inventing the trampoline. His invention has since become a popular piece of equipment in athletic training, recreation, and competitive sports around the world.

Nissen became involved in gymnastics in high school and continued practicing the sport at the University of Iowa, where he won the NCAA gymnastics championship in 1935 and 1936. It was this background which provided him for the background and interest for his work with trampolines.

The idea for the trampoline came to Nissen in the early 1930s after watching trapeze artists perform tricks and drop into a safety net at the end of their acts. He envisioned a device that could use the principle of the bouncing net to help train tumblers and gymnasts. Along with his coach, Larry Griswold, he created the first prototype of the trampoline in 1936. They named it after "el trampolĂ­n," the Spanish word for diving board.

Nissen's invention proved versatile and gained popularity beyond training for acrobatics and gymnastics. During World War II, for instance, the U.S. Navy used trampolines for pilot and navigator training, to give trainees a sense of orientation in the air. Later, the space program also used trampolines to help astronauts develop and maintain their spatial awareness.

Nissen continued to promote his invention throughout his life, showcasing the trampoline at performances and competitions. He also founded a company, the Nissen Corporation, which manufactured and sold trampolines.

He always wanted trampolining to be an Olympic sport and was reportedly delighted when it was included in the Olympic Games as a competitive sport starting in the year 2000. He attended both the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where he was allowed to test the trampoline before the event.

George Nissen's contributions to sports and recreation were widely recognized. He held several patents and was inducted into numerous halls of fame, including the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

Born: February 3, 1914
Birthplace: Blairstown, Iowa, USA

Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Tiger
Star Sign: Aquarius

Died: April 7, 2010 (aged 96)
Cause of Death: Complications from pneumonia

Historical Events

  • 1945-03-06 George Nissen of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, receives a patent for the first modern trampoline

Biographies and Sources