What is the difference between tumbling and gymnastics?
In Women's gymnastics there are 4 events in which athletes compete: bars, beam, floor and vault.
Tumbling, on the other hand focuses only on "flips" on the floor and does not participate in the events of bars, beam, floor and vault.
Tumbling is necessary in gymnastic and while athletes will learn how to tumble, it is not the primary focus in the sport of gymnastics. Tumbling plays a big role in being able to participate in other sports such as cheerleading or acrobatics.