Donald Wallace Gordon

Donald Wallace (Wally) Gordon (4 February 1932 – 11 April 2016) was an American gymnast and inventor who is notable for inventing the first landing mats, incline mats, octagons and all the other foam shapes that currently fill gymnastic schools. Gordon also invented the foam landing pits for pole-vaulters and high jumpers used in all Track and Field competitions including the 1968 Olympics, where they made their first Olympic debut.

He created the first constant flow "Moon Bounce" air units and developed closed air recreation products for water and land. He has worked as a consultant for trampoline inventor George Nissen to design next generation landing pits for his company. Gordon has over 300 products on the market and holds approximately 40 patents.