President Donald Trump issued an executive order restoring the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, as part of the Trump administration’s effort to revive annual physical fitness exams in schools nationwide.
According to The Associated Press (AP), the award is tied to the Presidential Fitness Test – a public-school benchmark established in 1966 that was retired under the Obama administration in 2012, shifting focus towards a program that minimized competition and prioritized long-term health.
“We’re bringing it back,” Trump affirmed during an Oval Office ceremony accompanied by children and professional athletes. “My administration is working very hard to defend America’s cherished athletic traditions and pass our values of excellence and competitiveness to the next generation.”
Fitness Award’s Previous Requirements
The award was previously issued to schoolchildren who passed certain athletic requirements, such as a 1-mile run, sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups, running, and reaching.
Students who scored above the 85th percentile for their respective gender for each portion of the test received the award.
President’s Fitness Council’s Role in The Test
The proclamation additionally directs the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition to develop school-based programs to reward excellence in physical education and develop adequate criteria for the award, according to NewsNation.
“The council includes golfer Bryson DeChambeau, NFL kicker Harrison Butker, Dr. Stephen Soloway, former NFL player Cody Campbell, golfer Annika Sörenstam, retired wrestler Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, and NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor,” the proclamation announced.
Provisions on Transgender Athletes
Addressing the topic of transgender athletes, President Trump championed his administration’s efforts towards trans athlete provisions, which require transgender athletes to compete in their biologically assigned gender given at birth.
Trump Administration’s Efforts To Restore The Test
The order comes nine months after President Trump signed an executive order re-establishing both the council and the physical exam.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower created the President’s Council on Youth Fitness in 1956, and President Lyndon B. Johnson established the Presidential Physical Fitness Award in 1966.
“We need young, strong, healthy Americans, whether you serve in the military or any other aspect of your life,” Defense Secretary Hegseth said during the ceremony. “The idea that competition is bad is the beginning of decline of a nation.”