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President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to revive the Presidential Fitness Test and the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition for American schoolchildren.
The Presidential Fitness Test originated in the 1950s under President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration. It was created due to concerns that Americans were not as physically fit as Europeans.
President John F. Kennedy further emphasized the importance of physical fitness in 1960 through a column in Sports Illustrated titled “The Soft American.” Kennedy highlighted the need for Americans to prioritize their physical health for the nation’s vitality.
President Donald Trump signs an executive order restarting the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools. Professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Vice President JD Vance witness the event. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration formalized the Physical Fitness Award Program in 1966, which included tests like situps, pullups, pushups, and a sit-and-reach test. The program aimed to recognize students in the 85th percentile or higher.
Subsequent presidents added activities like a 1-mile run and shuttle run to the Presidential Fitness Test. However, the test faced criticism for its one-size-fits-all approach and lack of consideration for individual differences.
President Barack Obama replaced the Presidential Fitness Test with the FitnessGram in 2012-13, focusing on holistic student wellness rather than athletic performance.
Trump’s executive order tasked the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition with addressing the obesity crisis among American children. Professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau was appointed to lead the council.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at the event where President Donald Trump signs the executive order to restart the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
The executive order outlined strategies for reestablishing the Presidential Fitness Test, promoting physical education excellence, expanding sports participation opportunities, setting fitness goals, and combating childhood obesity and sedentary lifestyles.
DeChambeau expressed enthusiasm about revitalizing the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition and reinstating the fitness test to promote healthier lifestyles among children.
President Donald Trump displays the signed executive order restarting the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau, WWE CCO Triple H, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are present. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
DeChambeau, along with other notable athletes, aims to impact children’s lives positively through the council’s initiatives.
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