Michelle Obama Hula Hoop Show Latest Obama Athletic Achievement

Michelle Obama's hula hoop skills were put on display yesterday, as Michelle Obama used a hula hoop to show off her physical fitness. Michelle Obama and her hula hoop starred in a 'Healthy Kids Fair' on the White House lawn on Wednesday, as the First Lady likely set a White House record for swivels. All told, Michelle Obama swiveled her hula hoop 142 times before stopping, as she once again demonstrated her commitment to being fit.

Fitness, health and the Obamas have been linked together a lot since they came to the White House. For Barack Obama, his struggles to get everybody treated with health care are still going on. For Michelle Obama, she has been fit as a fiddle for a while now. Obama's hula hoop demonstration was just the latest example.

When Michelle Obama showed her bare arms in public several months back, supporters took note of how lean her arms were - while Obama opponents accused her of having no decorum. With Michelle Obama's hula hoop display, it is a little harder to frame it as a political statement or an anti-American act, though some may try.

Still, the First Lady showed that Barack isn't the only athletic one in the family. The President is famous for his basketball playing, and more infamous for his attempts to bowl during the 2008 campaign. The Michelle Obama hula hoop action didn't involve shooting three pointers or getting a strike, but getting 142 swivels is still impressive, even for hula hoop experts.

No one accused Laura and Barbara Bush, or Hillary Clinton, of being overly athletic during their times at First Lady. But it demonstrates how health, fitness and exercise seem to be Michelle Obama's pet project as First Lady, which fits right in with Barack Obama's plans for the nation's health. Whether the Obamas plans work or not is still uncertain, given the obesity crisis and the country's overall health problems.

Michelle Obama's hula hoop show brought extra attention to the Healthy Kids Fair, at the least, as young guests got a few lessons in what healthy eating and exercise can do - even if it means seeing vegetables on their plates.

Sources

Los Angeles Times- "Michelle Obama Hula-Hooping our way to health"

BBC News- "Michelle Obama's hula hips"

TMZ.com- "Michelle Obama Hoops it Up"