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Dong Dong leads Chinese trampoline favorites in Rio

The sport of trampoline, first introduced to the Olympics in Sydney in 2000, is all about high-flying exploits.

Athletes will launch from the trampoline into the air high as 25 feet above the apparatus and perform twists, tucks and somersaults. They are judged by the time in the air, how difficult their routines are and how well they execute them.

The athletes — 16 men and 16 women — are expected to keep up the height and form throughout their airborne routines while staying to the middle of the trampoline. Here's what to know about the favorites, rivalries and other stories emerging from the group:

TEAM TO WATCH: Chinese athletes dominate the sport, even though the country put together a national team only in 2002 and made its Olympic debut in 2004.