Dips Beyond Bars: A Deep Dip Into Reality

By Amrit Manku, Breaking News

Girls performing tricep dips together

The rain didn’t stop them, and neither did fatigue. On June 7th, World Dip Day sold out nearly 100 tickets which brought together participants of all ages and backgrounds at the Royal Oak Calisthenics Park at Westbourne Green Open Space, powered by TGO Activate Outdoor Gym (by The Great Outdoor Gym Company), to achieve a monumental milestone: 30,000 tricep dips in four hours.

Organised by The Spartan Project (TSP), a non-profit using movement and creativity to empower youth, alongside the Built by Barz Community, the event was more than a fitness challenge - it was a celebration of unity, inclusion, and collective strength. 

Leader of the Built by Barz community Kyle Queensborough, otherwise known as Kayque said: "The energy was powerful, and I'm proud of what we created. When we come together as a community, teamwork becomes unstoppable and every smile adds strength to the mission".


Dippo, CEO of TSP

“Some things are too big to do alone,” said ChristianD’Ippolito, popularly known as Dippo, CEO of TSP and event co-lead. “This was never about individual strength - it was about what we can achieve together.”

The event’s atmosphere was charged with energy and community spirit. Two 18-year-old boys Theo and Official K.Q, arrived at 8 a.m. and logged 2,000 reps each, igniting inspiration across the park and inspiring others to keep going. They found it important and motivating as they're both young and simply need to set an example, as exemplified by Theo.

 K.Q stated, 'It was an opportunity to test my limits and reach an unknown territory no matter how long or painful it would take.' 

Theo and Official K.Q

Theo and Official K.Q

A crowd favourite, Milo the Mascot - a bear in a calisthenics costume - wowed attendees with a flawless L-sit, blending strength with fun.
    
Milo the Mascot

The presence of Birmingham's Calisthenics Team, led by respected coaches Bilal, Grace, and Cali Boy, amplified the energy, reminding everyone what mentorship and experience can offer a community-driven event like this.

Gymnastics and Calisthenics coach Grace

All ages. All abilities. All backgrounds. No excuses.

World Dip Day proved the power of community cohesion to transform an ordinary day into an extraordinary show of human connection, unity, and perseverance; the open-access space welcomed all - seasoned athletes, beginners, children, and elders alike - to contribute their dips toward a collective target that was never just about numbers. From the moment it kicked off, it was clear this wasn't a competition - it was a movement. One that defied rain, doubt, and limits.

Girls on World Dip Day

“This is what creates unity. This is what sparks empathy. And this is what forges community,” said Dippo.

Perhaps most moving was the display of strength shared by the many women present. Media team associate at the University CalisthenicsAssociation (UCA), Amrit Kaur boldly stated: “Strength is not confined to gender. Strong is a beautiful dress - worn proudly by all.”

Amrit Kaur with the founder of TGO, Georgina

World Dip Day wasn't just about calisthenics - it was a statement. In an age ruled by screens and isolation, something as simple as a dip bar can become a bridge between strangers. A tool for empowerment, accessible fitness spaces, and how shared goals can forge genuine connections in a disconnected era.

We didn’t just hit 30,000 dips. We proved what’s possible when we show up for one another.

Exhausted but inspired, the crowd left with more than sore arms - they left with a renewed sense of what community really means in 2025.


Image by: Martyn Tutin, Co-Founder of TSP and Kaloscreates

-

About The Spartan Project (TSP)
TSP is a youth-focused non-profit dedicated to building community through creativity, movement, and accessible programming. Learn more: TSP website




About The Great Outdoor Gym Company
Creators of TGO Activate outdoor gyms across the UK and beyond, committed to building active, connected communities. TGO website

 


Image credits: Martyn Tutin and Leonardo



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rebellion Teen ‘Trapper’ Expelled From Every School; From Streets to Saved: Kani’s Powerful Transformation

Image
 As a young teen , it’s easy to slip into bad habits, especially when the wrong crowd influences you. Sometimes, it feels like you’re stuck in a place you know isn’t healthy, but it’s not until you discover your true purpose that you begin to see a way out. Photo credits: Kani Prabaharan   Kani Prabaharan , only 18 years old , admits to a past where being caught by the police, expelled from every school, and dealing weed was what he thought was him ‘making something of himself’. With no role model to look up to, only his mum, he knew letting her down was proving him guilty and ashamed. It wasn’t until his mum found 500g of weed under his bed in big see-through Ziplock bags, that broke his heart and hers… So, what changed? A powerful sport called calisthenics became his purpose, drive, and ticket to self-discovery and strength internally and externally. No other sport fosters a community quite like calisthenics, where authenticity, skill-building, long-term goal-sett...
Read more

WSWCF Makes Global History with the 2025 Calisthenics World Championship in Bulgaria

Image
Elite athletes, rising nations, and global icons unite in Sofia, Bulgaria for the sport’s most powerful and inclusive event to date. Elana Lyubenova Andrey Andreev Tomas Popisil and Daniel Hristov                                                                                     Stoyan Pavlov From April 24th to 27th , Sofia, Bulgaria became the epicentre of global calisthenics , hosting the prestigious  World Street Workout & Calisthenics Federation (WSWCF) Championship 2025 . The championship brought together the strongest, most skilled, and most passionate figures in the sport for what proved to be the biggest historic event . Athletes ranged from seasoned veterans to first-time competitors ; the categories showcased the depth and diversity of talent within the worl...
Read more

Calisthenics for Social Impact: Gymshark Partners with Anti-Knife Crime Charity Steel Warriors

Image
Image credits, Amrit Kaur In today’s world, gym memberships are becoming increasingly expensive, social exclusion is on the rise, and knife crime remains a significant issue in the UK. This is where the sport of calisthenics steps in. Not everyone is familiar with the term 'calisthenics', much less what it entails. This growing sport, which relies solely on body-weighted movements, is now being harnessed as a tool to drive social change , specifically in the fight against knife crime in the UK. Steel Warriors , an anti-knife crime charity , has been innovatively addressing this issue: by recycling steel from confiscated knives to build outdoor street gyms . Since 2019, over 100,000 knives have been removed from the streets, and since its inception in 2017, Steel Warriors has been on a mission to melt down these weapons and turn them into gyms that provide young people with a positive alternative . The goal is to help those affected by knife crime, violence, and social ...
Read more