1968 The concept of aerobics is popularized by Dr Kenneth H Cooper with the publication of
“AEROBICS”, the first exercise book to focus primarily on aerobic fitness. The book is based on
Research done by Dr Cooper for the U S Air Force and later employed in training American
Astronauts.
1969 Jacki Sorenson works with Ken Cooper to create aerobic dancing as a form of fitness training for
Air Force wives in Puerto Rico by combining dance steps and other exercise movements.
1970 Jacki Sorenson establishes Aerobic Dancing, Inc. in South Orange, New Jersey to introduce her
aerobic program to the general public.
1971 Dr Ken Cooper establishes the Aerobic Centre in Dallas, Texas to continue research into aerobic
fitness.
1979 50 000 students participate in Jacki Sorenson aerobic dancing classes.
1980 Joe Henson, former Olympic medallist and then National President of the AAU (Amateur Athletic
Union of the of the United States, Inc, a member organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee,
Announces his intention to create a competitive sport bases on aerobic dance under the auspices of
the AAU. The AAU, established in 1988, is the largest non-profit volunteer organization in
America dedicated to amateur sports and physical fitness. The AAU served as the model to Baron
Pierre de Coubertin in the establishment of the International Olympic Committee when the
modern Olympics were revived in 1896.
1981 Joe Henson speaks with Jacki Sorenson, creator of aerobic dancing, at the Awards Program of
The Women’s Sports Foundation in New York on October 5, 1981 and discusses the creation of
a sport based on aerobics. The sport of aerobics is born.
1981 Joe Henson consults various individuals within the world of sports and fitness and develops the
idea of aerobic sport competition. AAU Officers approve concept of creating sport of aerobics,
in keeping with AAU tradition of introducing new sports to the American public (as it did with
such sports as synchronized swimming, tea-kwondo and sombo, all of which eventually became
Olympic or Pan American sports). AAU sets timetable for development of legitimate rules of
Competition and organization of local, grass roots sport committees for competitive aerobics.
Schedule of local events and date of first national championships are announced. Key figures
In sports and the aerobic industry are contacted for input.
1982 160 000 students participate in Jacki Sorenson aerobic dancing classes.
1983 The AAU approves and publishes the first set of comprehensive rules for Aerobic Competition
Developed by its Ad Hoc National Team Aerobic Dance Committee, at its annual meeting at
the Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., September 9 – 13, 1983. The AAU committee
includes such notable figures as Olympic medallist, Jack Kelly, later president of the United
States Olympic Committee (USOC), Irving Dardik, founding member of the USOC Sports
Medicine Committee and creator of the Dardik Biograph used in bypass surgery, Cory Ser
Vaas, nutritionist, fitness expert and publisher for the SATURDAY EVENING POST, and
MORNING STRETCH television exercise show host Joanie Greggins.
The AAU determines to conduct aerobics as a legitimate sport. AAU program is:
(a) Strictly amateur (no cash or valuable prizes awarded, only medals and traditional sports
Awards, such as certificates, trophies, plaques);
(b) Governed by an organization, which is a member of the United States Olympic Committee
(USOC)
© Controlled by and operated under the auspices of a non-profit organization (AAU);
(d) Not a profit making venture, nor commercial in nature, with no title sponsors (i.e. the
Name of the non-profit sport organization running the competition is predominant, as is
done in amateur sports, not the name of the sponsor, as is done in professional sports).
(e) Organised and conducted exclusively by volunteers (no paid staff);
(f) Run in traditional sport venues (gymnasia and sports facilities, not bars or shopping malls);
(g) Run by a national sports federation, organized with the traditional structure of sport
Federations within the Olympic movement, including:
- Administered nationally by a democratically elected committee (not one individual)
selected at a national Convention by locally elected delegates of local state-level
committees.
- Administered locally as a democratic, grass roots organization, by independent, volunteer
Committees elected by member clubs composed of individual member athletes.
- Composed by member athletes and clubs that are registered with the national organization.
- Run at all levels by democratically elected volunteers who have the final decision making
authority on all matters relating to the sport, including rules, location of competitions, etc.
1983 The Aerobic and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) is incorporated as a profit making
Corporation in the state of California on 20 June 1983. The stated purpose of the corporation
is certification of aerobic instructors.
1984 Jane Fonda releases first aerobic exercise tape. Aerobic fitness awareness grows in popularity
with books, commercial aerobic exercise videos and television exercise shows by Jacki Sorenson,
Joanie Greggins, Kathy Smith, Denise Austin, Gilad Jankowicz and others.
1984 Howard Schwarts Associates, Inc. is incorporated as a profit-making corporation in the state of
California on 8 March 1984 in the field of “entertainment promotions/TV productions.”
1984 The FIRST AAU aerobics competition takes place on June 22, 1984 at the Lee District Recreation
Centre in Alexandria, Virginia (a suburb of Washington, D.C.), sanctioned by the Potomac Valley
Association of the AAU (PVAAU). Barbara Organ MacNamee, later President of the U.S.
Synchronized Swimming Association, serves as head judge. Dr Irving Dardik of the U S Olympic
Committee Sports Medicine Committee and Richard Harkins, National AAU president attend.
FIRST AEROBIC EVENT of any kind sanctioned by the AAU.
1984 The FIRST ever-national aerobics championships are conducted by the AAU on July 27, 1984,
at the Louisiana Super dome in New Orleans as part of the Sport and Fitness Exposition held in
conjunction with the New Orleans World Fair. Aerobics celebrity Denise Austin serves as a
judge. First National Championships sanctioned by the AAU and first national championships
sanctioned by any organization.
1984 Howard Schwartz Associates, Inc., holds the finals of a National Aerobic Championships entitled
The Evian’s Great Shape National Aerobic Championship (held December 16, 1984 at
Metromedia (Fox) Studios in Los Angeles, California by Howard Schwartz Associates, Inc.).
Title Sponsorship by Evian Water (in subsequent years replaced as sponsor by Christal Light
and Reebok). FIRST national competition organized by Howard Schwartz Associates, Inc.
1985 The International Dance Exercise Association, Inc. (IDEA) is incorporated as a profit making
corporation in the state of California on 17 December 1985. Its stated purpose is professional
association – membership services.
1985 Aerobic Fitness Association of America (AFAA) conducts the first Coppertone Tanercise
American Aerobic Competition. Title Sponsorship Coppertone.
1985 The second National AAU Aerobics Championships are held at the North View Middle School
Gymnasium in Indianapolis, Indiana on October 19, 1985.
1985 The second National Aerobic Championship finals produced by Howard Schwartz Associates,
Inc. is held in fall of 1985 at Hollywood Centre Studios in Los Angeles, California. Title
Sponsorship by Crystal Light soft drink.
1985 The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) estimates that over 45 million
people are practicing aerobics in the United States.
1986 Third AAU Aerobics Championships held at the Smith Centre of George Washington Univesity
in Washington, D.C. on July 29 1986, as part of the Capital Games, the official State Games of
the District of Columbia. FIRST appearance ever of aerobics as a competitive sport in any
State Games. Nita Priest of the Cooper Clinic serves as a judge.
1986 The third National Aerobic Championships produced by Howard Schwartz Associates, Inc.
is held at the Nashville Network (TNN) Studios in Nashville, Tennessee in 1985. Title
sponsorship by Crystal Light.
1986 The second Copperton Tanercise American Aerobic Competition is held by AFAA. Title
sponsorship by Coppertone.
1986 The AAU takes over administration of the Presidential Sports Award for the President’s
Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS).
1987 Aerobics is approved for inclusion in the Presidential Sports Award Program administered by
the AAU for the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS).
1987 The United States Amateur Aerobic Sports Federation (USAASF) is founded. Members to
serve as the National Governing body (NGB) for aerobics in the United States. (USAASF is
subsequently incorporated as a non-profit organization in the state of Virginia in the United
States and affiliates with the AAU).
1987 The fourth Annual AAU Aerobics Championships are held at the Earl C Sams Centre of
Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas on August 22 and 23 1987. AAU and USAASF
Sanctioned. First event sanctioned by USAASF.
1987 FISAA, the International Amateur Aerobic Sports Federation (Federation Internationale
Des Sports Aerobics Amateurs) is founded. FISAA is subsequently incorporated as a non-profit
Organization in the state of Virginia in the United States.
1987 The fourth National Aerobic Championships finals produced by Howard Schwartz Associates, Inc.
is held at the Nashville Network (TNN) studios in Nashville, Tennessee in 1987. Title sponsorship
by Crystal Light Nutrasweet.
1987 The third Coppertone Tanercise American Aerobic Competition is held by AFAA title
Sponsorship by Coppertone.
1988 The fifth Annual Aerobics Championships are held at Klum Gymnasium of the University of
Hawaii-Manoa in Honolulu, Hawaii on November 5, co-sanctioned by the USAASF, AAU
and USAASF sanctioned.
1988 FISAA organizational congress held in conjunction with AAU-USAASF National Championships
In Honolulu, Hawaii. FIRST event sanctioned by FISAA.
1988 FISAA representatives are accredited to major international sports conferences supported by
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other key sports groups.
1988 AAU-USAASF organizes aerobics demonstrations at FIRST World Corporate Games at the
Civic Centre Placa in San Francisco, California on October 22, 1988.
1988 The fifth National Aerobic Championship finals produced by Howard Schwartz Associates Inc.
is held at the Nashville Network (TNN) Studios in Nashville, Tennessee in 1988. Last
Championship under title sponsorship of Crystal Light.
1988 Aerobics has the third highest number of participants of all sports in the AAU administered
Presidential Sports Award program in its first year in the program.
1989 The sixth Annual AAU-USAASF Aerobics Championships are held at the Sports Complex of
California State University at Hayward in Hayward, California, near San Francisco on
19 August 1989. AAU and USAASF sanctioned.
1989 The U.S. Competitive Aerobics Federation (USCAF) is incorporated in the state of California
as a non-profit organization on 27 April 1989. USCAF sanctions Regionals and Finals of the
Reebok National Aerobic Championships in 1989. FIRST events sanctioned by USCAF
1989 The sixth National Aerobic Championships Final produced by Howard Scwartz Associates, Inc.
is held at the Atlanta Convention Centre in Atlanta, Georgia during the Sporting Goods
Manufacturers Association (SGMA) annual trade show in 1989. New title sponsorship by
by Reebok shoes. USCAF sanctioned.
1989 Aerobics has the second highest number of participants of all sports in the AAU administered
Presidential Sports Award program for 1989.
1990 Hawaiin AAU Team Aerobic Dance Committee Chairman organizes aerobics demonstration
at opening ceremonies of the inaugural Aloha State Games at the Waikiki shell in Honolulu,
Hawaii on July 12 1990.
1990 The seventh annual AAU-USAASF Aerobics Championships are held at the Charles E Smith
Centre of George Washington University in Washington, D.C. on July 14. AAU en USAASF
sanctioned.
1990 FIRST Sundance Aerobics and Fitness Competition organized by AFAA is held with National
Finals held 15 September at the Los Angeles Airport Hilton. Title sponsorship by Sundance
soft drink.
1990 Aerobics has the third highest number of participants of all sports in the AAU administered
Presidential Sports Award program for 1990.
1991 The eight annual AAU-USAASF Aerobics Championships are held at the Mitchell W. Stout
Fitness Centre on Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas on July 27. AAU en USAASF sanctioned.
1991 The eighth National Aerobic Championships Finals produced by Howard Schwartz Associates
Inc. to be held at the Stouffer Concourse Hotel, Los Angeles, California. Title sponsorship
Reebok. USCAF sanctioned.
1991 The second Sundance Aerobics and Fitness Competition organized by AFAA is held with National
Finals scheduled to be held on board the SS Norway on 14 October during a Caribbean
Cruise 12 – 19 October. Title sponsorship by Sundance.
1991 As of June 1, 1991, aerobics has the fourth highest number of participants of all sports in the
AAU administered Presidential Sports Award program for 1991.
1992 The ninth annual AAU-USAASF Aerobics Championships are scheduled for August 15, in
Atlanta, Georgia. AAU en USAASF sanctioned.
1993 Symposia in October 1993 with GAISF – General Association of International Sports Federation -
a policy was documented whereby the atonomy of Sport Aerobic Championships was ensured.
1993 FIRST WAAFF (World Amateur Aerobic Fitness Federation) World Championships held in
held in San Francisco, USA.
1994 In November 1994 FISAF – Federation Internationale des Sport Aerobics et Fitness was officially
formed in Nu-Ulan, Germany and its democratic constitution accepted.
1994 Second WAAFF World Championships held in South Africa.
1995 Third WAAFF World Championships held in San Diego, USA
1996 XXVI Olympic Games are scheduled for Atlantia, Georgia.
1996 Fourth WAAFF World Championships held in Orlando, USA
1996 FIRST FISAF World Championshps held in Genoa, Italy
1997 Fifth WAAFF World Championships held in Anaheim, USA
1997 Second FISAF World Championships held in Sydney, Australia
1998 Sixth WAAFF World Championships held in Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
1998 Third FISAF World Championships held in Brazil
1999 Fourth FISAF World Championships held in Helsinki, Finland
2000 Target date for Olympic Recognition of Aerobics.
2000 Fifth FISAF World Championships held in Gent, Belgium
2001 Sixth FISAF World Championships held in D’Agadir, Morocco
2002 FISAF Senior World Championships held in Montpellier, France
FISAF Junior World Championships held in Budapest, Hungary
2003 FISAF Senior World Championshps held in Prague, Czech Republic
FISAF Junior World Championships held in Pécs, Hungary
2004 FISAF Senior & Junior World Championships held in Adelaide, Australia
2005 FISAF Senior World Championships held in Gent, Belgium
FISAF Junior World Championships held in Moscow, Russia
2006 FISAF Junior World Championships held in Ukraine
FISAF Senior World Championships held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands
