MASON, Ohio — A local jump rope team jumping across the world in competitions is now backing an effort to make it an Olympic sport. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Comet Skippers out of Mason City Schools have been jumping in competitions across the globe 

  • The team of students is training the next round of competitors during summer camp

  • Their head coach is backing a national effort to try and make competitive jump roping an Olympic sport 

The kids at Mason schools have been challenged to backflip, push-up and dance, all while jumping rope. Saiya Patel said she’s up for it.

“Someone asked me to join one of the older kids, and (they were) like, 'hey, you should come join the team' and I was like, 'why not?'" said Patel. 

She’s been jumping competitively for the last 10 years and is a part of the school’s jump rope team, the Comet Skippers.  

“This sport is so different because you’re able to get so many like leadership opportunities through it and like travel,” said Patel.

The team has been to national and world competitions. Now, Patel and several other competitive jumpers are leading a summer camp to challenge and train the next team of jumpers for the competition.

“We do speed events. We do individual freestyle events. We do big team events,” said Head Coach Vikki Robinson.

Robinson wants more for the jumpers. 

“These kids they work so hard. We work hours and hours in the gym, and to think that one day I could compete in the Olympics in the sport that I love is very exciting,” said Robinson.

She’s backing a push to make jump roping an Olympic sport and be recognized at more schools as a sport, rather than just an activity.

These jumpers are not giving up.