Children today are getting less daily exercise, and Teresa Martinez, Maricopa’s State House representative, is determined to change that.
This morning, Martinez invited members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sun Corridor to the Arizona State Capitol. There, she launched the Statewide Fitness Challenge alongside six-time world boxing champion Mike Tyson, who was the undisputed heavyweight champion in the late 1980s.
“Arizona kids deserve every chance to grow up strong, confident, and healthy — and that starts with movement,” Martinez said. She was motivated to bring back the fitness test, which was discontinued in 2012, after learning that most high school military recruits no longer meet fitness standards.
Physical activity among children has been low for years, and the trend shows little improvement. A report from the Physical Activity Alliance last year revealed that only about one in four children meet the recommended hour of daily exercise. This is unchanged from the previous year.
“That is a new problem we’ve never had before,” Martinez said. “I heard on the radio that the presidential fitness challenge was discontinued and that it should be reinstated. I thought, ‘That’s a great idea — I should bring it back.’”
Martinez took action. She partnered with cosponsors and the Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs to launch the Statewide Fitness Challenge. The challenge will run until July 1 at clubs across Arizona. Young participants will engage in daily physical activities and track progress through simple exercises like planks, push-ups, and sit-ups.
Martinez chose to bring in retired boxer Mike Tyson because of his global fame and his commitment to fitness education. Tyson was the youngest heavyweight champion and the first to hold all three major belts in the sport’s modern era.
“Mike has a microschool in Arizona where he includes physical fitness as part of the curriculum,” Martinez said. “He is great with kids, and I had the chance to meet him before.”
Tyson’s visit lasted about 30 minutes. He spoke briefly and judged a push-up contest between children and legislators. His presence made a strong impression on the kids.
One of them was 11-year-old Steven Calderon, a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sun Corridor from Maricopa. Calderon was among the dozens of young attendees cheering as Tyson’s name was announced.
“It was exciting,” Calderon said. “I was a little nervous because I’ve never met such a famous person before, but I liked it.”
Matthew Lemberg, executive director of the youth organization, called the event “a cool opportunity.”
“Even the adults here are excited,” Lemberg told InMaricopa. “It’s an amazing chance for our statewide alliance to come together at the Capitol. Fitness is very important to us, and we appreciate the support from the legislators.”
