Kissimmee - Nearly 800 of the nation's best baton twirlers will compete in the 2023 U.S. National Baton Twirling Championships, July 11-15, at the Silver Spurs Arena and Events Center at the Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee. The competition, which is sponsored by the United States Twirling Association (USTA), runs from 8 a.m. to approximately 7 p.m. each day and is free and open to the public. This premier competition is supported by the Greater Orlando Sports Commission.
“Baton twirling is an exciting sport that combines athleticism with artistry,” said USTA President Karen Cammer. “Sport baton twirlers display incredible speed, strength, and dexterity, twirling one, two, three, and even four metal batons, combined with beautiful dance and acrobatic skills. I know Kissimmee sports fans will enjoy seeing our nation's top twirlers in action.”
Male and female twirlers from across the country who range in age from five to adult will demonstrate their skills in the National Championships, which is a competition for advanced and elite athletes, as well as the Festival of the Future, a competition for novice, beginner, and intermediate athletes. In both competitions, athletes will compete in individual and group events, including:
- Solo - an exciting event using one baton which is rolled, flipped and tossed around the body and through the air at great speed
- 2-Baton and 3-Baton - highly difficult events using two or three batons which must be kept moving at all times
- Strut and Artistic Twirl - beautiful but demanding events combining twirling with dance and gymnastics
- Groups - the crowd will be on its feet as groups of twirlers perform synchronized twirling and challenging exchanges
Highlights of the National Championships include the National Collegiate Finals, featuring many of the nation's top collegiate twirlers, which will begin at approximately 6 p.m. on Friday, July 14. The Collegiate Finals will be followed by the National Finals Show, beginning at approximately 6:45 p.m. also on Friday, July 14. The exciting Team Finals ill be held at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 15. All finals will be held in the Silver Spurs Arena and are free and open to the public.
The national competitors include members of Team USA, which will represent the United States in the World Baton Twirling Championship and Nations Cup competition, to be held August 4-13 in Liverpool, England.
“Baton twirling is a popular sport in the U.S. and other countries around the world,” said Sandi Wiemers, president of the World Baton Twirling Federation (WBTF). “It has gained new prominence in recent years through exposure in shows like Cirque du Soleil and America's Got Talent.”
Twirling experts say the sport of baton twirling promotes physical fitness and flexibility and helps fight childhood obesity. It also helps young people develop positive self-esteem and valuable life skills, such as goal setting, self-discipline, time management, and teamwork.
The 2023 U.S. National Baton Twirling Championships mark the first time the National Championships have been held in Kissimmee, but the World Baton Twirling Championships were held at the Silver Spurs Arena in 2018.
“We are excited to bring baton twirling back to the Osceola Heritage Park,” said USTA President Cammer. “Kissimmee is a beautiful, welcoming city that offers our athletes and their families a quality competition venue surrounded by family-friendly attractions and amenities.”
For more information about the sport of baton twirling and the United States Twirling Association, visit www.ustwirling.com.