Jump Roping taken to the Next Level

I also wanted to post this video that I was sent today because I thought it was cool.  These girls, performing at the Naval Academy, can do some really cool tricks with a jump rope, or at least I think so  It really is jump roping taken to the next level.  This made me think of a topic discussed a few weeks back about cheerleaders.  These girls are obviously in amazing shape to be able to jump for that long; it take a lot of dedication, coordination and athletic ability to do this.  But are they considered athletes?  Like cheerleaders, they are made up to look pretty and made into performers to entertain.  Because of this, many people see these girls as performers instead of athletes; the video clip especially presents the girls as performers having fun.  But, also, like cheerleaders, I could see this becoming some kind of competition.  The question keeps coming up, when does a hobby or performance become a sport?