{
  "id": 13738651,
  "title": "Double Dutch, the competitive sport giving young athletes strength and support",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/double-dutch-the-competitive-sport-giving-young-athletes-strength-and",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-11T14:56:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/double-dutch-competitive-sport-giving-145630781.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Double Dutch, a competitive sport that involves synchronized rope jumping, is often associated with childhood memories of playful jumping, but it has evolved into a serious athletic discipline. Dedicated athletes worldwide train rigorously for competitions, elevating this traditional activity to a challenging performance sport. For 17-year-old Khnaue Robinson, a member of the Floyd-Little Double Dutch Team in Newark, New Jersey, the sport has transcended competition to become a source of confidence, friendship, and support.\n\nKhnaue, who has spent five years developing her skills, has already secured 19 World Championship titles with her team. Their intense training involves multiple sessions each week, with a focus on improving speed, accuracy, and coordination. Each athlete must work on these aspects because even minor improvements can significantly impact performance. The sport requires more than just jumping over ropes; it demands synchronized movements from two rope turners while the jumper executes precise footwork, tricks, and athletic maneuvers within the ropes. Timing and teamwork are crucial, as every participant must perform flawlessly in unison.\n\nSpeed is a paramount element in Double Dutch competitions. Athletes must jump as rapidly as possible while maintaining control and precision. Success in this sport demands not only physical endurance and strength but also mental focus and a positive attitude. Competitors must learn to recover from errors and maintain their performance under pressure. For Khnaue, the sport has offered more than athletic accomplishment; it has provided a supportive environment essential for her growth, especially growing up in Newark, where she faced various challenges.\n\nThe Floyd-Little Double Dutch Team is more than just a group of athletes; it has become a community where members find encouragement and build lasting relationships. For Khnaue, the support she received from the team taught her the value of believing in herself and the importance of having people who support her ambitions. While trophies symbolize success, the sport imparts broader life lessons such as discipline, teamwork, confidence, and resilience. It teaches athletes that improvement requires consistent practice and that setbacks are part of the journey toward becoming stronger.\n\nActivities like Double Dutch offer young people positive opportunities to develop skills and forge meaningful connections within a supportive team. Khnaue Robinson’s journey illustrates that Double Dutch is more than a game; it is a competitive sport that challenges athletes physically while fostering a powerful sense of community. Through every jump, turn, and competition, it demonstrates the transformative power of teamwork and encouragement, enabling individuals to achieve far beyond their initial expectations.",
  "summary": "Discover how competitive Double Dutch helps young athletes build skills, confidence, and community through teamwork.",
  "key_points": [
    "Double Dutch evolved from playful jumping to competitive sport",
    "17-year-old Khnaue Robinson won 19 World Championship titles",
    "Team provides Khnaue with confidence, friendship, and support"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}