A Brief History of the AAU Junior Olympic Games as the Event Celebrates 57 Years

By Vanessa Jasiewicz 
 

ORLANDO, Fla. (July 20, 2023) -- As the Amateur Athletic Union prepares for its 57th AAU Junior Olympic Games in Des Moines, Iowa from July 26 - August 5, 2023, we’re taking a trip down memory lane. The AAU Junior Olympic Games have evolved since the inaugural year in 1967 in Washington, D.C.

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Office in Orlando, Florida has a plethora of AAU Junior Olympic Games archives to be looked through and tons of history to be uncovered. From magazines, to medals, to thousands of slide negatives (example below), this sporting event has changed a lot over the years, while also staying true to its prestigious name and ultimate purpose. 
 

Lighting of the AAU Junior Olympic Games Torch on a slide negative, 1976.

 

In 1967, Vice-President Hubert H. Humphrey said, “I welcome you to the AAU Junior Olympic Games in track and field and swimming. I welcome every champion to Washington. And what an honor it is to officially open these games.”

“Many of you are here because someone cared,” he declared. “You were encouraged … to develop your skills and your ability and tomorrow you will be in the AAU competition for national honors. And people will know that somebody cared and that you cared enough to do your best," he said.
 

Back then, the AAU used to have its own magazine publication called the Amateur Athlete. This magazine was the one stop read for all things sports related. It highlighted accomplished athletes, competition records, upcoming events, sport advertisements, sponsors, and much more. A three-year magazine subscription (36 Issues) cost just $12 in 1967. 

Two pages from Amateur Athlete's 1967 September Issue. 

Within Amateur Athlete, there are snapshots of history, including this quote, "A milestone in AAU Junior Olympics history will be attained this month. For the first time since this youth program was initiated in 1949, championships will be decided on a direct competitive basis in swimming and track on Tuesday, Aug 22, in Washington, D.C.”

You read that right -- only two events took place at the first ever AAU Junior Olympic Games: swimming and track and field. 

“The cream of the nation’s teen-age crop in these two sports will vie for the laurels in the Capital, bringing together close to 500 youngsters,” someone wrote in the September 1967 issue of the Amateur Athlete. 

Back then, the AAU Junior Olympic Games were sponsored by the Quaker Oats Company. 

Archive highlighting Capital Record-Breakers in Track and Field, 1967

The Games have grown tremendously since then, with this year’s 57th annual AAU Junior Olympic Games offering 11 sports. Track and field is still the largest event to take place at these Games. Additionally, this year the AAU Junior Olympic Games will include trampoline & tumbling, wrestling, sport stacking, fencing, karate, taekwondo, baton twirling, jump rope, swimming, and field hockey.  

The AAU Junior Olympic Games aid in the growth of each respective sport. For example, in 2010 there were 364 participants in the swimming event. Fast forward to last year’s Games in 2022, there were 700 participants in swimming. The goal is to see numbers also grow for the more unique sports that the AAU offers, such as sports stacking, baton twirling, and jump rope. 

The Amateur Athletic Union is the one of the largest grassroots sport organizations nationwide and the AAU Junior Olympic Games are a great stepping stone for many athletes on their path to even bigger stages in their careers such as the Olympic Games.
 

Many Olympic athletes have started in an AAU program or have even been an AAU Junior Olympian themselves. Track star Sydney Mclaughlin competed in the 2008 AAU Junior Olympic Games. She went on to win two gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Athing Mu, who competed at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Des Moines, Iowa five years ago, also won two gold medals at the 2020 Games.
 

Pictured: Sydney Mclaughlin and Athing Mu

Who’s name will you remember from this year’s AAU Junior Olympic Games in Des Moines, Iowa?