Each series, known as a pass, comprises eight elements in which the athlete jumps, twists and flips placing only their hands and feet on the track.

[1] Tumbling can also refer more generally to similar acrobatic skills performed on their own or in other gymnastics events, such as in floor exercises or on the balance beam.

Although tumbling is not currently an Olympic event, elite tumblers competing at the international level can compete in various events organised by the FIG, continental confederations as well as at the European Games and World Games.

[3] Tumbling became part of the educational system of ancient Greece, from which early Romans borrowed the exercise for use in military training.

[5]: 12  It is at the end of this period in 1303 that the verb tumble is first attested in this sense in English.

Before this time, the International Trampoline Federation governed the sport since its founding in 1964.

[8] National federations have even longer histories, such as the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States which included tumbling in events as early as 1886.

It was around this time that the floor exercise, which includes many elements of tumbling, became an individual event at the Olympics.

[4]: 3 The National Collegiate Athletic Association previously included tumbling as an event, but removed it in 1962 to emphasise artistic gymnastics.

[1]: 23 Before the tumbling track, there is a run-up area on which the gymnasts can generate speed before beginning their pass.

This run-up area measures 10 metres (33 ft) in length and should be the same height as the track itself.

[12] At the end of the tumbling track there is a mat called the landing area.

All passes must end with a somersault, meaning the gymnast must flip at least once in the final skill.

Elements can differ by the number of somersaults, twists or even the position of the gymnast's body.

Somersaults are given difficulty points based on how many flips and twists the gymnast performs and the position of their body during the skill.

At FIG events, this process of taking the middle three scores is done per element rather than per judge.