The Sydney Swans, Carlton Football Club, the Wallabies, Ninja Warrior Ben Polson and MMA star Arlene Blencowe back the Hold On Challenge to build young Australians' mental fitness and resilience.

Some of Australia’s biggest sports stars and teams have joined forces to support the PTP Hold On Challenge—a national fundraising and awareness campaign aimed at building mental fitness and resilience among young Australians. Launched today by The Youth Impact Foundation and Aussie fitness brand PTP, the Hold On Challenge invites Australians to test their limits by holding a physical position such as a plank, wall sit, or bar hold, for as long as possible, logging their time and nominating others to take part and donate to the cause. 

Sydney Swans players James Rowbottom, Sam Wicks and Charlie Curnow were among the first to take part, with Rowbottom taking top honours, holding a bar for an impressive 1 minute and 40 seconds.

Nic Newman, Ashton Moir, Campbell Chesser and Cooper Lord stepped up for Carlton Football Club, each taking on a bar hold, with Lordy claiming the top spot at 1 minute and 33 seconds.

Carlton then set their sights on the Wallabies, nominating them as the next team to step up, and Wallabies players Harry Potter, Pete Samu and Jake Gordon wasted no time answering the call. Samu put in a standout performance, stopping the clock at an impressive 3 minutes and 4 seconds, setting a high bar for any challengers to come.

Taking the challenge to another level, Ninja Warrior star Ben Polson set a world record for a weighted bar hold with an additional 100kg strapped to him, a feat that speaks to the extraordinary resilience he has built throughout his life and career. MMA and boxing star Arlene Blencowe has also joined the growing roster of athletes getting behind the cause, holding a plank for 4 minutes and 10 seconds. 

The Hold On Challenge is built on a powerful belief that resilience is a form of mental fitness and a skill that can be taught, practised and strengthened in every young person. By inviting Australians to physically “hold on” the campaign raises funds and awareness to reach young people early, before challenges become crises.

Sam Wicks said playing elite sport teaches you that resilience is a skill that you build through your experiences, tough moments and knowing you have teammates in your corner.

"The Hold On Challenge is about making sure young Australians have those same skills behind them when life gets tough, and that is something I am really proud to be part of," he said.

Carlton defender Nic Newman said that success in sport and in life is never a solo effort.

“We want young Australians to know they are not in this alone when it comes to having each other’s backs through the tough moments. We loved taking part in the challenge, and we can't wait to see what the rest of Australia brings," he said.

Ninja Warrior Ben Polson said the challenge taps into something he knows well.

"Ninja Warrior is all about pushing past the point where your body is telling you to stop, and that's exactly what the Hold On Challenge is about. But more than the physical test, it's about building the kind of mental resilience that stays with you long after the challenge is done. That's something I'm really passionate about, especially when it comes to young Australians," he said.

The launch comes at a critical time, with one in four young Australians experiencing a mental health condition each year, with initiatives that foster connection, resilience and hope more important than ever. The Hold On Challenge taps into the power of sport, shared participation and community to drive both fundraising and a national conversation around building youth mental fitness and resilience.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Sydney Swans and Carlton Football Club players, the Wallabies, Ben Polson, Arlene Blencowe and all the other athletes involved, for getting behind the Hold On Challenge and helping us start this national conversation. Resilience and mental fitness are skills every young Australian can learn. Each person who takes part or donates brings us one step closer to our goal of reaching one million young Australians by 2030,” said Andy Skidmore, CEO, The Youth Impact Foundation

To take part, head to Hold On Challenge (www.holdonchallenge.com.au), pick your exercise hold, give it everything you've got, log your time and donate. Participants are encouraged to challenge a friend or family member to do the same. Share your efforts on social media using #HoldOnChallenge and tag @holdonchallengeaus and @ptpfit so your hold can be reshared.