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Dallas doctor recalls training 1970 FIFA World Cup champions Brazil in aerobics
By Deborah Ferguson at NBC DFW
· July 7, 2026
· 3 min read
The Dallas doctor who is considered "the father of aerobics," Kenneth Cooper, is looking back on 60 years of contributions to soccer and fitness. Many will be familiar with the 12-minute run test Cooper developed to measure cardiovascular fitness in 1968 while he was a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air
Key takeaway Cooper was speaking at a conference in France in 1968 when Brazilian soccer fitness coach Claudio Coutinho asked him to create an aerobic training program for his players.
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Category: schools ·
Published: July 7, 2026 ·
Source: NBC DFW ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The Dallas doctor who is considered "the father of aerobics," Kenneth Cooper, is looking back on 60 years of contributions to soccer and fitness. Many will be familiar with the 12-minute run test Cooper developed to measure cardiovascular fitness in 1968 while he was a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air
When was this published? This article was first published on July 7, 2026 by NBC DFW and curated for The Fort Worth readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Deborah Ferguson at NBC DFW. To learn more about how The Fort Worth selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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