For New Hope resident Zach Peckman, rhythm isn't just part of making music; it's also the key to becoming one of the nation's fastest jump rope athletes.
The 17-year-old New Hope-Solebury High School senior recently made history at the 2026 U.S. Jump Rope National Championships at Buffalo State University, where he set three national records and captured Grand National Champion titles in three events. As he now prepares to qualify for the 2027 World Jump Rope Championships in Norway, Peckman credits discipline, science and music for helping him reach the top of his sport.
Peckman's journey began in fourth grade when the Bucks County Bungee Jumpers performed at his school.
"They did routines in sync with each other," he recalled. "I thought it was the coolest thing I ever saw, so I joined that team."
The exhibition team gave him opportunities to perform at venues such as Madison Square Garden and Wells Fargo Center (now dubbed Xfinity Mobile Arena). But it wasn't until seventh grade, when he joined the Zero Gravity Jump Rope Team in Doylestown, that he discovered competitive speed jumping.
"This was my first time ever trying speed, which is what I've really gotten into," he said. "The individual speed events are 30 seconds long and three minutes long, and you have to jump as fast as you can. It requires a different type of form compared to freestyle jump rope."
His dedication paid off this summer when he delivered one of the strongest performances ever by an American speed jumper.
Peckman broke his own U.S. record in the three-minute speed endurance event with a score of 525, equal to 1,050 total jumps because judges count only each landing of the right foot. He also defended his national title in the event.
In the 30-second speed sprint, he recorded a score of 104, or 208 total jumps, breaking his previous U.S. age 18 and under record of 102. He added a third U.S. record in the mixed double-under relay with partner Erika Ebersole of Maryland, as the pair scored 190 to eclipse the previous record of 184.
For Peckman, improving upon his own three-minute record was especially satisfying.
"Last year I got a score of 515 in three minutes, which was breaking the U.S. national record," he said. "When I finished jumping, I thought that was an absolutely perfect run. I didn't think I'd ever top that."
Instead, he surpassed it twice during this year's competition.
"I actually beat my 515 score two times, in prelims with a score of 520, and then again in finals where I got my score of 525," he said. "It felt incredible breaking my own record."
Success didn't happen overnight.
"I think the biggest key to my success this year was probably discipline," Peckman said. "There were days when I woke up tired and didn't really feel like training, but getting myself to push through and do the workout anyway was what made the difference.
"I have heavy ropes that challenge my arms and lightweight ropes that let me go all out," he added. "I also run, lift weights and do conditioning workouts. If I spent all my time just jumping, I'd probably get injured."
At the height of training season, he practices five or six days each week.
Peckman's international experiences have also shaped his development.
Last summer he represented the United States at the 2025 World Jump Rope Championships in Kawasaki, Japan, where he competed against athletes from more than 30 countries.
"Seeing these jumpers get these unbelievable scores that I didn't think were humanly possible really put things in perspective," he said. "It made it very clear that there are other athletes around the world putting in even more effort than me, and if I want to compete with them, I have to step up my training."
The experience also broadened his perspective beyond athletics.
"Even across different countries and different cultures, every young person is kind of the same," Peckman said. "We all wanted to talk about training and exchange information. I made a lot of friends from around the world."
Although not everyone spoke the same language, translation apps bridged the gap.
"It was really uplifting to see how all these young people, whether they were from Korea, Taipei or Belgium, could connect," he said.
His appreciation for the sport strengthened during a training camp hosted by the Chinese National Team in Guangzhou last winter.
From the first day, Peckman noticed athletes training to the steady beat of a metronome.
"I was curious why training to a metronome was so helpful," he said.
His research led him to rhythmic entrainment, the process by which the brain synchronizes movement with an external rhythm.
"I found out there's actually a lot of scientific evidence showing why it's helpful," he said. "Brain waves are able to sync up to external stimuli such as a metronome or a song, and this syncing makes physical movement more efficient."
Today, he trains to carefully selected music, including a sped-up version of "Footloose."
"Synchronizing each jump and even my breathing to the beat helps me maintain my pace, conserve energy and distracts me from the pain of going all out for three minutes," he said.
The same understanding of rhythm has influenced his musical accomplishments.
Peckman began playing viola in third grade and now plays both viola and violin. He serves as concertmaster of the New Hope-Solebury High School Orchestra and recently earned first chair viola in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra after advancing through district and regional auditions.
"When they announced the seating and said my name first, I was in total shock," he said. "It was the most amazing feeling in the world to be first chair in the state."
He believes both pursuits strengthen one another.
"I think jumping rope helped my music, and music helped my jump roping," Peckman said. "They really go hand in hand, although they might seem different from someone looking at them for the first time."
"Jumping rope to a beat has really helped my ability to play my instruments," Peckman said. "If I'm playing with a piano accompaniment or an orchestra, it's really the same thing. You're syncing with a tempo."
He also sees similarities in the preparation required for both.
"If you want to play a solo, you can't just sight-read it for the first time on a big stage," he said. "You have to improve your technique and practice until you can play it perfectly. It's the same thing with jump rope. You can't pick up a rope for the first time and expect to go fast without making mistakes."
As Peckman prepares for the qualifying competition for the 2027 World Championships in Norway, Peckman is focused on refining every detail.
"I'm reevaluating my form, experimenting with new equipment and looking for new songs to jump to," he said. "When school starts, I'll get back into high-intensity training because I need to be in peak condition."
His long-term dream is to continue representing the United States internationally and eventually compete in the Olympics if jump rope becomes an Olympic sport.
Looking back, Peckman never imagined that a school demonstration would lead him around the world.
"Jump rope has really been my ticket to see the world," he said. "It's brought me into contact with people from so many different cultures, and I've realized that the jump rope community is one of the most supportive communities I've ever been a part of."
Now, younger competitors are turning to him for advice.
"Just a few years ago I was looking up to so many people," Peckman said. "Now people are looking up to me. That's kind of surreal."
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