Kurt Bächler - the Father of Trampolining died

Indeed, Kurt was like a father, a role model, a great educator, coach and leader to all those, who had the privilege to cross his path and work with him. <

As a young coach and gymnast, he was in Los Angeles (USA) and was one of the coaches which prepared the USA Men’s Artistic Gymnastics team for the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. It was during this time that he met George Nissen, who had just built his first Trampoline. From this moment, Trampolining became one of his aims in life. He brought this new sport to Europe and spread it all over the Continent. At that time, Trampolining was so revolutionary, that the FIG did not want to hear about it and Kurt Bächler became one of the driving forces to found the International Trampoline Federation (FIT) in 1964.
At the 1st FIT Congress in Frankfurt (GER), Kurt was elected as a member of the Technical Committee and he became TC President in 1974 in Johannesburg (RSA). After 20 years of intensive and fruitful work, he became Honorary Member of the FIT in Paris (FRA) in 1984. His vision, to have Trampolining as a part of the Gymnastics family and the Olympic programme, became a reality in 1990, when the FIT and the FIG merged. This was only possible thanks to basic work which was made by Kurt Bächler and other pioneers of Trampolining.

Kurt Bächler’s life was not only Trampolining. As mentioned above, in the bottom of his heart, he was a Gymnast. But he was also an expert skier. For many years, he was Technical Director of the famous International Youth Ski Camp in Lenk (SUI), where his abilities were greatly appreciated and honoured. Kurt was a successful businessman, he was the exclusive representative of PUMA in Switzerland.

All those who knew Kurt Bächler will never forget this outstanding personality. He will be remembered as a great, impartial and motivating leader with charisma, who dedicated his whole life to sport and developed Trampolining to what it is today: An attractive sport, spread over all Continents and part of the Olympic programme.

The FIG expresses its deepest sympathy to his two sons, family and close friends.

Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique

Bruno Grandi - Norbert Bueche
- President - - Secretary General -