The President's Challenge was an American program promulgated by the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition that aimed to encourage all Americans to "make being active part of their everyday lives" and to be physically fit. The President's Challenge was introduced by Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966. It was designed to help motivate participants to improve regardless of activity and fitness level. The Presidential Champions program was discontinued on June 30, 2018.
Program Content
The President's Challenge program included Awards for actively performing members in their preferred games, sports, or athletics. There were various levels of Awards available. They are:
To obtain credit participants must log in their daily efforts, which as noted above can include both sports and physical fitness activities. Each daily activity gives a certain number of points, the number computed by both its intensity and duration. Reporting is entirely on the honor system. Each higher level award requires accumulating more points. There is not a time limit. Qualifiers are eligible for certificates, medals and patches, with the platinum award being a large medallion. The lower levels are comparatively easy, while the platinum award requires a sustained effort, typically over several years. Annually the number of people who reached this point has increased. Over 100 a year now earn it. Several have been awarded it multiple times. Participants who achieve the Platinum Award are also offered participation in the Presidential Champions Platinum Award program. The Platinum Awards page was taken down in 2016 following the transition of the program from being under the administration of FDA to the Department on Agriculture on August 31, 2016. SuperTracker and the new management did not track Platinum earners or post any information about them, and the program was suspended in 2018.
On January 11, 2012, the operators of the website for participants of the Challenge and Active Lifestyle programs learned that the website had been hacked resulting in the release of personal information of the participants. The President's Challenge website said it was down for "Site Maintenance – We're taking a little breather." On January 20, 2012, the website was modified to explain the hacking. On January 27, 2012, The President's Challenge sent out emails to its participants saying that the website was functional as of January 24, 2012, and asked participants to reset their user passwords.
Discontinuation
The awards program was terminated on June 30, 2018. The reason given was that the private sector created many other tools that have the same purpose, so it was discontinued to invest in newer ways to help Americans have a healthy lifestyle.
