Sportaerobics is the only athletic sport founded as a fitness activity that today is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and is poised to become an Olympic Sport.
This sport was born on 1983 from an idea of Howard and Karen Schwartz who took aerobics from a fitness activity and created the competitive discipline called competitive aerobics, trying to reward the “best aerobic instructor”.
In just a few years Sportaerobics underwent deep changes, adding gymnastics elements to a one-minute and forty-five second (1:45) music-choreographed routine; sportaerobics athletes today must demonstrate the components of fitness including cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, balance, coordination, agility, speed, and power through continuous movement patterns.


THE ASSOCIATION OF
NATIONAL AEROBIC CHAMPIONSHIPS WORLDWIDE (ANAC)


Shortly after the development of a set of rules and guidelines by Sport Fitness International led by Howard and Karen Schwartz, the first National Aerobic Championship (NAC) was held in the USA in 1984.

From 1986 Sportaerobics witnessed a vast and rapid development as countries around the world joined the USA and adopted the rules and judging criteria created for the NAC. In 1989 the non profit United States Competitive Aerobics Federation (USCAF) was founded as the governing body for sportaerobics in the USA, and the Association of National Aerobic Championships Worldwide (ANACW) its governing body worldwide, comprised of national member affiliates and with its Headquarter in Los Angeles (USA).

In 1990 the first ANAC World Aerobic Championship was held in San Diego, with 16 participating Countries and a great recognition of public and media. This competition was organized under the auspices of ICAF (International Competitive Aerobic Federation).
In the late 1990 IAF (International Aerobic Federation) started its own circuit of aerobic competitions, based in Tokyo (Japan), giving birth to Suzuki World Cup.
In 1995 the Federation Internationale Gymnastic (FIG) accepted sportaerobics as an official discipline, gaining official recognition by the IOC and positioning it for future Olympic games inclusion.




















In 1996 ICAF was split in two different realities: ANAC itself with its own life, and FISAF (Federation Internationale Sports Aerobics Fitness), whose appeal is mainly for European Countries.
Sportaerobics was added to World Games beginning in August 1997. Inclusion in this prestigious event, presented every four years, is a catalyst for the sport toward its Olympic goal.

In 1998 ANAC was once again pioneering the sport, introducing – first among all - youth sportaerobics for 7 – 17 year olds : the first ANAC WORLD YOUTH SPORTAEROBICS CHAMPIONSHIP was conducted in Orlando (Florida).

For over 15 years the ANAC World Championship has been broadcasted by ESPN e ESPN2, reaching over 117 millions of spectators in the USA, and being enjoyed in other 70 countries throughout Europe thanks to Eurosport.

For a sport to be recognized within the Olympic specialties, it’s necessary to have just one so-called “World Championship”, and just one set of rules. On the way to help bring this discipline to the Olympics, starting in 2005 ANAC adopted the FIG Code of Points for national and international competitions, and the World Aerobic Championship changed its name into ANAC INTERNATIONAL AEROBICS CHAMPIONSHIP, not loosing any of its prestige. The essence of the event will stay the same: a great moment of athleticism that many athletes around the world would never give up, taking the chance to go to the US and compete under the auspices of the Organization who gave birth to the discipline they love.


NAC IN ITALY

Since 1996 ANAC assumed its own identity in Italy too, becoming in just a few years a prestigious organization with highly talented athletes , who earned top-level placements at World level, and great appreciation by all the competitors involved. Governing body for NAC activities in Italy is ASD Global Fitness Service based in Rome.

Among the best placements of NAC Italian athletes (the complete list and results are available in the Hall of Fame section), we’d like to remember: Luana Brunetti (finalist in Orlando 1996), Giuseppe Napoleone (individual finalist 1999 and 2002, mixed pair finalist with Giovanna Napoleone in 1999 and 2000 – bronze medallist in 2000), Ivan Robustelli and Daniela De Campi (Silver mixed pair in 2001), Eleonora Depalma (individual finalist 2002 and 2004, bronze in 2003 mixed pairing with Alex Fenton and trio silver medallist in 2004 with Alex Fenton and Giorgio Picinelli), trios Messina – Robustelli – Fenton, bronze in 2002, and Picinelli – Robustelli - Fenton bronze in 2003.

In the Youth division the medals series started in 2000 with the great Silver won by Arianna Ciucci, who also got bronze in trio with Laura Liuti and Chiara Morresi; the same year, Lora Bertone, Luna Pratesi and Vanessa Micheli earned a wonderful 4th place. Arianna Ciucci’s heritage has been catched by Paola Giacomobono, bronze in 2002 and silver in 2003; in 2003 she also became World Champion in trio with Deborah Brugnetti (4th individual 2003) and Sonia Barletta (4th individual 2001 and 5th in 2002).