“Iron Mike” Tyson, described as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, has come out in strong support for Congressman Abraham Hamadeh’s proposed Congressional Fitness Challenge. The world heavyweight champion says he is eager to roll out the Congressional Fitness Challenge in his schools.
“Iron Mike” threw his support for the Congressman’s program aimed at making America’s youth healthy again in a joint interview with FOX News.
Hamadeh’s bill, House Concurrent Resolution 20, creates a voluntary nationwide program for children ages 6-17 across all educational settings. The Challenge includes five core fitness tests: the 1-Mile Run/Walk, Pull-Ups/Flexed Arm Hang, Curl-Ups or Sit-Ups, Shuttle Run, and Sit-and-Reach. Participants can earn gold, silver, or bronze recognition based on their performance against clear, age-appropriate standards. Students who successfully complete the challenge will receive a signed certificate from the Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the student’s senator and congressman.
Hamadeh introduced the Congressional Fitness Challenge bill as part of his bold initiative to build a stronger, healthier future for our kids.
Hall of Fame professional quarterback Brett Favre announced his support for the program in a joint opinion piece for OutKick.com earlier this spring, in which the duo invited other athletes and Congressional colleagues to join this bipartisan effort to improve youth fitness and strengthen our nation’s future.
While the champ acknowledged that the current situation is harming national security, noting that 77% of Americans aged 17 to 24 would need a wavier to serve in the military, he said the Congressional Fitness Challenge program gives him hope for the future of our country.
“I think this is going to improve, and people are going to get better, and people want to get healthier,” said Mike. “I just believe that. It can be helped.”
“I agree with “Iron Mike,” and am grateful for his powerful support for the program and shared dedication to improving the health of our kids,” said Hamadeh. “America’s youth are facing a silent crisis with childhood obesity having tripled since the 1970s, so it is imperative that we do all we can to revive physical excellence among America’s youth to build a stronger nation.”
Tyson’s Transformational Technologies Academy school system, with schools in Florida, Arizona, and West Virginia, will adopt the program and plans to develop a curriculum based on it.
In 2013 it was the pres. youth fitness program. How is this any different. Kids continued to get lazier and fatter. How is another fitness program going to help us understand we are in control of our own bodies? Well let’s hope…