who invented the backflip

5 hours ago 5
Nature

The story that Sir John H. Backflip invented the backflip in 1316 is a fabricated myth created by AI-generated misinformation and is not historically accurate. This tale, which humorously claims a medieval knight named John Backflip performed the first backflip, is entirely fictional and was debunked as nonsense

. The actual origin of the backflip is not attributed to a single inventor. Acrobatics involving flips have been practiced for thousands of years, with evidence such as the Minoan Bull-Leaping Fresco from around 1700-1425 BC depicting flip-like maneuvers

. Flips have evolved over centuries in various cultures and disciplines, including gymnastics, where flips are rigorously categorized and performed on different apparatus

. In summary, no individual "invented" the backflip; it developed as part of human acrobatic and gymnastic practices over millennia. The story of John Backflip is a humorous fabrication and should not be taken as fact