It was a visit to the circus that gave George Nissen the idea to build a tumbling device, later known as the trampoline. Today, trampolining is a highly competitive sport, where athletes leap 30 feet into the air, performing twists and somersaults. But it took Nissen four decades to see trampolining become an Olympic event. He got that chance at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney with his daughter, Dian, a national champion. The World’s Rebecca Kanthor has the story of the man who taught the world to bounce.
Without federal support, local stations, especially in rural and underserved areas, face deep cuts or even closure. Vital public service alerts, news, storytelling, and programming like The World will be impacted. The World has weathered many storms, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to being your trusted source for human-centered international news, shared with integrity and care. We believe public media is about truth and access for all. As an independent, nonprofit newsroom, we aren’t controlled by billionaire owners or corporations. We are sustained by listeners like you.
Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World.