The 2025 International Jump Rope Masters Tournament took place successfully in Gaojing Town, Baoshan District, Shanghai, from October 17 to 20. Making its debut in China, this international event brought together over 230 top-tier athletes from 12 countries and regions worldwide—including nearly 60 overseas jump rope masters—jointly presenting a jump rope gala that blends elite competitiveness with high viewing appeal.
On the evening of October 17, the tournament’s opening ceremony was held at Hotel Indigo Shanghai Baoshan. Leaders and guests from event-related organizations attended, witnessing the launch of this global jump rope spectacle together. Amidst a fervent atmosphere, a spectacular “Jump Rope Masters Show” and the opening ceremony kicked off the competition. During the official matches on October 18 and 19, athletes went head-to-head in core events such as the 30-Second Single Rope Speed Sprint (SRSS), 3-Minute Single Rope Speed Endurance (SRSE), and Single Rope Individual Freestyle (SRIF). The alternating performances of the Single Rope Individual Freestyle Battle and Guinness World Record Challenge Events sent the on-site excitement soaring to new heights.
This tournament marked new breakthroughs in competitive standards, with multiple event records shattered. Lu Yanfen, a 10-year-old rising star from Shandong, China, made history by breaking two records in the women’s divisions of the 30-Second SRSS and 3-Minute SRSE—scoring an impressive 214 jumps and 1,040 jumps respectively. South Korean athlete Hyeseong Seol also set a new record of 1,094 jumps in the men’s 3-Minute SRSE. Zhang Chengwei (China) claimed the championship in the Men’s Group D of Single Rope Individual Freestyle. The Masters Tournament titles for each group went to Chinese athletes Han Zimo and Ouyang Yaoke, South Korean athletes Hyeseong Seol, Jinseo Ahn, Han Gyeol Park, Lin Yeong Kim, and Seungmin Seo, as well as American athlete Lauren Ellis. Australian athlete Luke Boon ultimately took home the crown in the Single Rope Individual Freestyle Battle.
In an interview, Luke Boon shared, “I’ve competed in many events in Shanghai before, but never with so many countries participating. This time, we didn’t just showcase our skills—we got to see different jump rope styles from all over the world. We were all part of this, cheering each other on. It’s been an exciting and fantastic tournament!”
To enhance audience interaction and public engagement, a series of dynamic supporting activities were launched during the event. The “National Jump Rope Carnival” combined interactive sessions like public challenges and sports markets, creating a true celebration of jump rope for all. The “Sports + Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)” experience featured Baoshan’s ICH items—such as Cai-style paper cutting and fabric collage painting—displayed alongside jump rope cultural and creative products, forging a wonderful dialogue between tradition and modernity. After the tournament, the organizing committee arranged for athletes to visit Baoshan’s riverside area and Shanghai’s cultural landmarks like The Bund and Yu Garden. Through the integration of “tournament and tourism,” international athletes got an in-depth taste of Shanghai’s urban charm. This one-stop service for athletes and spectators boosted consumption conversion, broke down barriers between professional tournaments and public participation, and allowed every jump rope enthusiast to immerse themselves as the “stars” of the gala.
The organizing committee also carefully curated an “International Jump Rope Training Camp,” building a professional exchange platform for athletes worldwide to learn from each other and deepen sports and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. Additionally, six interactive demonstrations by world champions were held in commercial districts, letting citizens experience the charm of jump rope up close.
Fan Haogang, a talented Single Rope Individual Freestyle athlete from Guangdong, said in a post-tournament interview, “My main goal at this tournament was to enjoy the competition itself, savor the atmosphere, and appreciate the applause from everyone. For the rest, I just went with the flow—doing my best in every jump was enough!”
In 2025, Baoshan District of Shanghai was successfully selected as a national pilot area for promoting sports consumption and tournament economy. By “using tournaments as a platform to drive economic activity” and deepening the integration of “tournaments, industries, tourism, and culture,” it aims to fuel new development in the sports industry and make sports a powerful engine for the city’s transformation. The hosting of this International Jump Rope Masters Tournament not only showcased the global standard of jump rope as a sport but also injected new vitality into promoting global sports exchange and advancing national fitness initiatives.
The tournament was co-hosted by the National Youth Sports Federation, Sports Bureau of Baoshan District (Shanghai), Education Bureau of Baoshan District (Shanghai), and People’s Government of Gaojing Town (Baoshan District, Shanghai); organized by the Shanghai Shuttlecock and Jump Rope Association and Baoshan District Sports Federation (Shanghai); and supported by the Shanghai Sports Federation and Shanghai Sports Development Foundation.
