Jean-Michel and Véronique Bataillon discover the trampoline

The French Federation of Trampoline Sports, created in May 1965 and then had more than two thousand licensees, organized a summer tour on the beaches. Little practiced in the region and without local competition, the discipline had nevertheless offered France two world titles with Richard Tison in 1974 in South Africa and in 1976 in the United States.

In Calvados, only the Omaha club of Vierville-sur-Mer, led by Mr. Labarrière, had responded to the demonstration offer. One Monday afternoon, the children and summer visitors admired Jean-Michel and Véronique Bataillon, champions of France, then some were introduced to the practice. The best received Kangaroo tests, comparable to swimming newts and ski stars.

The couple, aged twenty-two each, had to carry out twenty-three demonstrations during the two months of vacation on the coasts of the English Channel and the Atlantic. Jean-Michel, junior world champion in 1970, had been five-time French champion and fifth at the 1977 European Championship. Véronique, a debutante in 1970, had also won five national titles and the seventh European place in 1977.

Jean-Michel came from athletics and Véronique from gymnastics. Their joint physical education teacher, Michel Roquette, who became a national coach, had led them to the trampoline. They trained more than ten hours a week, with jogging for the heart rate and swimming for the back muscles. The height of the jumps varied according to the figure, up to seven meters for the candle.

The article presented this sport as demanding reflexes, speed, balance, musculature and body awareness, with strict safety rules to be respected by the monitor. He indicated a possible start around the age of ten and quoted Mr. Barthe, capable at eighty-three years of performing a grouped back jump. The Federation planned to renew the tour the following year on a larger scale, with a reinforced demonstration team.

Archive image: https://vierville.cordelle.eu/PhDoc10/1977juil24-trampol.jpg