A new initiative aims to boost physical fitness among students nationwide, potentially including institutions like Mike Tyson’s own academy. The “Congressional Fitness Challenge,” outlined in House Concurrent Resolution 20 introduced by Representative Abe Hamadeh (R-Ariz.), proposes a voluntary program designed to improve the health and wellness of young Americans.
Participants who successfully complete the challenge would receive a certificate signed by the Speaker of the House, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and their respective senator and congressman.
The motivation behind this effort is clear, according to boxing legend Mike Tyson. “Listen, because we need to be in shape, man,” he stated in an interview. He highlighted a concerning reality: “We can’t physically get into an army because we’re out of shape. And that’s embarrassing.” Tyson pointed to data from the Department of Defense indicating that 77% of Americans aged 17-24 would require a waiver to meet military service standards.
“It’s just mental. It’s just a shame, but it can be helped,” Tyson added with optimism.
The program is intended for students in K-12 public and private schools, groups that administer testing for home schoolers, and members of Congress who host “community-based events” related to the challenge.
Here’s a breakdown of how the challenge will work:
- Inspiration: The fitness benchmarks are modeled after the historic Presidential Physical Fitness Test popular during the Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson administrations in the 1960s.
- Components: The test includes exercises such as a mile-long run or walk, pull-ups (or flexed arm hang), curl-ups, sit-ups, shuttle runs, and a sit-and-reach assessment.
- Levels of Achievement: Participants will be categorized into tiers based on their performance:
- Gold: Top 85th percentile
- Silver: Top 75th percentile
- Bronze: Top 50th percentile
Representative Hamadeh emphasized the importance of this initiative, suggesting it aligns with a broader goal. “So we got to make sure that they’re physically fit,” he said. “Now is the perfect time to be instituting this once again… where he wants to make America healthy again.”
Tyson expressed his faith in the program’s potential impact. “I think this is going to improve, and people are going to get better, and people want to get healthier. I just believe that,” he said.
Tyson Transformational Technologies Academy, a private school in Arizona (part of the My Life My Power International Preparatory Academy with campuses also in Florida and West Virginia), is planning to participate in the challenge.
Support for the resolution extends beyond Tyson. Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre and former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown have publicly endorsed it.
“Love this! So important for our Youth,” Brown posted on X.
Favre and Hamadeh co-authored an op-ed stating, “As a former pro athlete, one of us knows first-hand the doors that physical fitness can open—confidence, leadership, the drive to succeed. As a Member of Congress and former US Army Captain and Intelligence Officer, the other sees the broader picture – healthier kids mean a healthier, more prosperous America.”
The resolution is also co-sponsored by Representatives Tony Weidmann and Martin Stutzman. Hamadeh concluded, “Right now, people are really focused on what foods have been going into their bodies and how come the obesity rate has tripled. And it’s a real problem in terms of a national security perspective.”
