Washington, Aug 03 (V7N) – American students will once again take to school fields in their sports uniforms to participate in the Presidential Fitness Test, nearly a decade after it was discontinued. President Donald Trump officially reinstated the program through an executive order signed on Thursday at the White House.

“I am pleased to announce that the Presidential Fitness Test and the Presidential Fitness Award are being officially reinstated,” Trump declared at a ceremony. “It was a great tradition, and we are bringing it back.”

First introduced in 1956 during President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration, the test was long used to evaluate the physical fitness of American youth. However, it was discontinued in 2012 under President Barack Obama, who replaced it with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program—a more health-focused and less performance-based initiative.

The revived version of the program will be implemented through the expanded President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition, with a mission to foster “a healthier, more active and more disciplined generation.”

White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt told ABC News, “President Trump wants the next generation to be healthy, strong and successful. To do this, a new culture is being created with an emphasis on active living, which will have an impact for years to come.”

The exact format of the new test has not yet been announced. The earlier version typically included a one-mile run, pull-ups or push-ups, sit-ups, shuttle runs, and the “sit and reach” flexibility test, according to Harvard Health.

Adding star power to the announcement, WWE legend Triple H—a 14-time world champion—joined Trump at the White House during the fitness council bill signing ceremony.

The reinstatement also aligns with the administration’s push for broader reforms in American sports. That includes a controversial effort to ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s competitions.

The move comes as the U.S. prepares to host several high-profile international sporting events: the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and the Ryder Cup in 2025.

Sources: ABC News, The Guardian.

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