Good afternoon everyone, my name is Caleb Valenzuela, and my topic for today is about Why Speedcubing should be a Sport. As you may know, I’m an aspiring speedcuber working toward becoming world-class.
I want to show you why it is worth it to invest time and effort into making speedcubing a sport. But first, you are probably wondering, “What is Speedcubing?”
"Speedcubing—also known as cubing—involves solving a wide variety of twisty puzzles as fast as possible. The most common is the 3x3 Rubik’s Cube, but there are many others like the 2x2, 4x4, and even shape-based puzzles like the pyramid-shaped Pyraminx.
People who take cubing seriously and aim for fast solves are called speedcubers—or just 'cubers' for short."
"The original Rubik’s Cube was invented in 1974 by Erno Rubik, and it became the best-selling toy in the world. Over time, what started as a simple puzzle turned into a global competitive scene.
Today, people from all over the world compete in official events run by the World Cube Association—or WCA—which sets the rules and oversees competitions."
"And just to give you an idea of how intense it can get: the current world record for solving a standard 3x3 cube is just 3.05 seconds!
You are now probably thinking: “why do people care about solving a cube quickly? What makes it special?” Well, first, cubing is one of the few hobbies that combine hand-eye coordination with mental skill. Your hands turn the cube, you recognize the pattern, and you do the “algorithm” to solve it. And if you are a speedcuber, then you have to do these twice or thrice as fast!
But unlike a lot of other hobbies/sports, anyone at any age can start! Whether you are 60 or 9, all you need is determination and perseverance.
But for me, the best part is the community. The Cubing community is just so positive and welcoming.
Whether you get a good result or a bad result, many people, including your competitors, cheer each other on even in the most intense competitions.
Speedcubing isn’t just getting a fast time, it’s about growth, perseverance, and friendship.
When you hear the word “sport”, you probably think of basketball, soccer, or swimming. But not all sports require lots of physical exertion.
Chess for example, is considered to be a sport by the International Olympic Committee and in many parts of the world.
Like chess, cubing is a mind sport. In chess, you memorize strategies, theory, and tactics, and in cubing you memorize algorithms, recognize patterns, think of plans and make split-second decisions on the spot.
Some may argue that chess is much more harsher mentally, but cubing makes up for it with finger dexterity and quick turn speed, which is something that chess doesn’t have.
To be able to get good results in cubing, you cannot afford to make any mistakes such as lock-ups and hesitations, which is the same for chess and other sports.
So for me, cubing should be and deserves to be a sport.
Most people still say that “cubing is just a toy”, but if it was true that cubing was only a toy, then why are there official competitions, an official organization, world records, coaches, documentaries, and thousands of passionate speed cubers across the globe?
Now, I’d like to share my journey as a speed cuber.
I started in 2022 when I was just 9 years old. Year after year, I’ve been competing in speedcubing competitions nationwide. At the beginning, I had frustrations by not getting good results. But I didn’t give up. I continued practicing hard. Then eventually, my hard work paid off and I started getting rewards and medals along the way.
Cubing is something that I love to do and I hope in the future they will recognize speedcubing as a sport.
In conclusion, Cubing is not just a toy, a TikTok trend, or a magic trick. It’s a serious activity that takes dedication, skill, and discipline to get to ,the top. It’s competitive, has official rules, and has a community, just like any other sport. Thousands of people across the globe commit their time and effort to reaching the top of rankings. So when you see someone solving a Rubik’s cube, don’t look at it as ONLY a toy, see it as challenge, a passion, and a sport.
Thank you.
