Nearby: New Hope Teen Sets National Jump Rope Records, Heads to World Championships in Japan

Zach Peckman, a 16-year-old jump rope athlete from New Hope, made history at the 2025 U.S. Jump Rope National Championships held early July in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, setting two national records and securing his spot among the sport’s elite as he gears up to represent the United States at the upcoming World Jump Rope Championships in Kawasaki, Japan.

At Nationals, representing the Zero Gravity Jump Rope Team, Peckman achieved a new U.S. record in Single Rope Speed Endurance (“Three-Minute Speed”) with a score of 515, surpassing the previous national record of 509 set in 2023. This remarkable performance earned him the title of Grand National Champion in the event.

In addition, Peckman tied for second place in Single Rope Speed Sprint (“30-Second Speed”) with a score of 102, matching Jake Amster, a student at University of Maryland. Zach’s score set a new U.S. record for athletes under 18.

Peckman will now travel as a member of the U.S. National Team to Kawasaki, Japan, for the 2025 World Jump Rope Championships, to be held from July 27 – August 3. The biennial event features over 2,000 athletes from 30+ countries. Peckman will compete in all four single rope male speed events.

On July 29, he will compete in Single Rope Speed Sprint Relay (4-person) and Single Rope Double Under Relay (2-person) Two days later on July 31, Peckman will compete in Single Rope Speed Sprint (30-Second) and Single Rope Speed Endurance (Three-Minute).

Peckman trains with Zero Gravity Jump Rope Team at the Doylestown YMCA, practicing three times weekly with his team and an additional three days per week with his father and coach. His training includes jump technique, strength, cardio, and speed development.

His journey began in elementary school through the Jump Rope for Heart program at New Hope-Solebury. He later performed at halftime shows in major arenas like Madison Square Garden and the Wells Fargo Center. His previous experience in international competitions was two years ago as part of the Junior U.S. Team at the 2023 World Championships in Colorado Springs.

In addition to athletics, Peckman is an accomplished musician. He is first chair violin and concertmaster of the New Hope-Solebury High School Orchestra and first chair viola in the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County.

During his record-breaking Three-Minute Speed performance, Peckman jumped to the beat of a carefully curated song. He listened via wireless earbud to the 1981 Kim Wilde hit, “Kids in America,” which he had sped-up slightly. Peckman knew that if he could stay on pace with the faster beat for the entire three minutes, he’d be the new record holder. The combination of athletic and musical discipline proved to be a winning formula, helping him surpass the U.S. record.

Peckman’s long-term dream is to one day represent the U.S. at the Olympics, should jump rope be added to the 2032 Games in Brisbane, Australia.