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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., July 2, 2010 – More than 1,800 athletes competed in the 2010 Trampoline and Tumbling Junior Olympic National Championships, June 27-July 2, at the Virginia Beach (Va.) Convention Center. Competition has wrapped up for Levels 5-10 in trampoline, double mini-trampoline, synchronized trampoline and tumbling for both men and women.

To qualify for the Junior Olympic National Championships, athletes must meet the qualifying criteria and score requirements which vary by category and event. Gymnasts in Levels 5-10 are ranked by their level of expertise, with 10 being the highest and just below elite.

Trampoline events involve athletes using trampolines that can propel them up to 30 feet in the air, during which they can perform single, double and twisted somersaults. Tumbling utilizes elevated spring runways that enable athletes to jump at heights over 10 feet and execute a variety of acrobatic maneuvers. Double-mini competition involves the athlete making a short run and leaping onto a small two-level trampoline. The athlete will then perform an aerial maneuver and dismount onto a landing mat.