All the poor folks who’re nursing their finger injuries from the EXTREME PEARL CLUTCHING induced by the Superbowl performance will have to curl up next to their fainting chairs because, surprise! Pole dancing has finally been recognized as being a legit sport.

The Global Association of International Sports Federation (GAISF) has finally given the International Pole Sports Federation official observer status. What this means is that one day, pole dancing could be an Olympic Sport.

If you’ve ever tried pole dancing or even checked it out on YouTube, you may have noticed that it’s hard AF. Although there are plenty of Judgey McJudgersons who want to think of it as some basic strip bar nonsense, the truth is that it’s an incredibly athletic endeavor. You can’t fully appreciate the extent of how crazy hard it is unless you try it.

Sure, it may be associated with peeler bars… but sorry, those girls can work it. I could never.

Pole dancing has slowly been getting the recognition it deserves for being such an athletic pursuit. It became a new exercise trend that brought it into the mainstream, which probably did wonders for the steps toward getting it recognized.

According to a statement made by the GAISF, “Pole Sports requires great physical and mental exertion; strength and endurance are required to lift, hold, and spin the body.” They continue, “A high degree of flexibility is needed to contort, pose, demonstrate lines, and execute techniques.” And this is clear. Watching good pole dancing has a way of making you realize just how completely out of shape you really are.

To become an Olympic Sport, it would have to be recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This can take a while, though. However, progress is progress, and it is actually amazing that this challenging sport is finally getting the credit it deserves.