Athletic Theme (New Super Mario Bros.)

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Not to be confused with Athletic Theme (New Super Mario Bros. U).
"Athletic Theme"
"Athletic Theme" in New Super Mario Bros.
Thumbnail for "Athletic Theme" from New Super Mario Bros. used for Nintendo Music
Image from Nintendo Music
Composed by:
Unknown
Key C major
First appearance New Super Mario Bros. (2006)
Latest appearance It's Me, Mario! Stop Motion Shorts ("Top Hat", 2025)
Arrangement of
"Ground Theme" (New Super Mario Bros.)

"Athletic Theme",[1] also known as "Athletic BGM",[2] is a musical theme in New Super Mario Bros., where it plays in the athletic levels. It is an uptempo swing arrangement of "Ground Theme" from the same game that features clarinet, muted trumpet, vibraphone, piano, trombone, and acoustic bass. The B section of the arrangement adds a new melody played on a square synthesizer.

History[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

New Super Mario Bros.[edit]

New Super Mario Bros. marks the first appearance of "Athletic Theme".

New Super Mario Bros. Wii[edit]

In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, a bluegrass/country arrangement of "Athletic Theme" plays in the athletic levels. The piano, clarinet, vibraphone, and square synthesizer from the original theme are replaced with accordion, banjo, and muted electric guitar.

Icon of an audio speaker. Athletic Theme - The arrangement heard in New Super Mario Bros. Wii
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New Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]

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In New Super Mario Bros. 2, an arrangement of "Athletic Theme" arranged by Kenta Nagata plays in the athletic levels. It is based on the New Super Mario Bros. Wii version, but it doubles the melody with a capella vocals. Additionally, a woodblock beat is added to the instrumental when Mario or Luigi are in their Raccoon/Fox forms, and a bell synth arpeggiator is added while the Gold Ring is active. This arrangement is also included in the official album The 30th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. Music.

Icon of an audio speaker. Athletic Theme - The arrangement heard in New Super Mario Bros. 2
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Mario & Sonic series[edit]

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Nintendo DS)[edit]

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In the Nintendo DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, a medley arrangement of "Ground BGM" from Super Mario World, "Underwater BGM" from Super Mario Bros., and "Athletic Theme" from New Super Mario Bros. is a playable song in the Ultimate Figure Skating Dream Event. It is titled the "Mario Medley".

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)[edit]

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In the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, an arrangement of "Athletic Theme" can be chosen as the background music for events. It is titled "Athletic BGM (New Super Mario Bros.)" in the game's sound test. The drums featured in this arrangement are reused from "That's The Way I Like It" from Sonic Adventure 2, performed by Hisanori Kumamaru.

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games[edit]

In the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, the arrangement of "Athletic Theme" from the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games can once again be chosen as the background music for events. It is titled "Athletic Theme: New Super Mario Bros." in the game's sound test.

Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games[edit]

In Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the arrangement of "Athletic Theme" from the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games can once again be chosen as the background music for events. It is titled "Athletic Theme: New Super Mario Bros. (Remix)" in the game's sound test.

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games[edit]

This section needs Mario & Sonic improvement. Specifically:

  • Add sound test information.

In the Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the arrangement of "Athletic Theme" from the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games can once again be chosen as the background music for events.

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, a medley arrangement of "Athletic Theme" and "Ground Theme" from New Super Mario Bros. 2 arranged by Yusuke Takahama can play in the Golden Plains and Super Mario Maker stages. It titled "Athletic Theme / Ground Theme (New Super Mario Bros. 2)" in the game's sound test. It is also included in the official album Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U: A Smashing Soundtrack.

Icon of an audio speaker. Athletic Theme / Ground Theme (New Super Mario Bros. 2) - The arrangement heard in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
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Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, "Athletic Theme / Ground Theme" from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS can play in the Mushroom Kingdom U and Super Mario Maker stages.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, "Athletic Theme / Ground Theme" from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage. It is simply titled "Athletic Theme - New Super Mario Bros. 2" in the game's sound test.

It's Me, Mario! Stop Motion Shorts[edit]

In the It's Me, Mario! Stop Motion Shorts episode "Top Hat", an arrangement of "Athletic Theme" plays throughout the majority of the episode.

Other appearances[edit]

Nintendo Super Mario Brothers Musical Toothbrush[edit]

The Nintendo Super Mario Brothers Musical Toothbrush includes a speaker that plays a two-minute remix of "Athletic Theme" titled "Nintendo Game song". It is pitched up and lacks the "paah" vocals.[3][4]

Taiko no Tatsujin[edit]

In Taiko no Tatsujin Wii: Minna de Party Sandaime!, Taiko no Tatsujin Wii: Kettei-Ban, Taiko no Tatsujin Wii: Chogouka-Ban, and Taiko no Tatsujin 14, a medley of "Ground Theme", "Underground Theme", "Switch On!", "Bonus Area", "Athletic Theme", and "Course Clear" from New Super Mario Bros. Wii is featured as a playable song. It is titled the "New Super Mario Bros. Wii Medley".

Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live[edit]

The "Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live" concert series featured a live big band medley arrangement by the Super Mario Big Band of "Ground Theme" and "Athletic Theme" from New Super Mario Bros., "Title Theme" from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and "Ground Theme" from New Super Mario Bros. U.

Nintendo Live 2023[edit]

Nintendo Live 2023 in Seattle, Washington, USA featured a live big band medley arrangement of "Athletic Theme" and "Ground Theme" from the same game performed by the Super Mario Super Big Band.[5]

List of Super Mario appearances[edit]

Games[edit]

Work System Year Type Title Credits
New Super Mario Bros. Nintendo DS 2006 Original "Athletic Theme"[1]
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Nintendo DS 2009 Arrangement "Mario Medley"[6]
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Wii 2009 Arrangement "Athletic BGM (New Super Mario Bros.)"[2]
New Super Mario Bros. Wii Wii 2009 Arrangement
Remix
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games Wii 2011 Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games [Wii]) "Athletic Theme: New Super Mario Bros."[7]
New Super Mario Bros. 2 Nintendo 3DS 2012 Arrangement 「アスレチックBGM」 (Asurechikku BGM)[8] Kenta Nagata
Remix
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Wii U 2013 Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games [Wii]) "Athletic Theme: New Super Mario Bros. (Remix)"[9]
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Nintendo 3DS 2014 Arrangement "Athletic Theme / Ground Theme (New Super Mario Bros. 2)"[10] Yusuke Takahama
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Wii U 2014 Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS) "Athletic Theme / Ground Theme (New Super Mario Bros. 2)"[11] Yusuke Takahama
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Wii U 2016 Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games [Wii])
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Nintendo Switch 2018 Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS) "Athletic Theme - New Super Mario Bros. 2"[12] Yusuke Takahama

Film and television[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
It's Me, Mario! Stop Motion Shorts 2025 Arrangement

Albums[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U: A Smashing Soundtrack 2015 Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS) "Athletic Theme / Ground Theme" Yusuke Takahama
The 30th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. Music 2015 Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. 2) 「アスレチックBGM」 (Asurechikku BGM) Kenta Nagata

Live performances[edit]

Event Year Location Type Title Credits
Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live 2015 Osaka International Convention Center, Osaka, Japan and Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, Japan[13] Arrangement Super Mario Special Band[13]
Nintendo Live 2023 2023 Seattle Convention Center, Seattle, Washington, USA[14] Arrangement "Athletic Theme"[5] Super Mario Super Big Band[5]

Other media[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Nintendo Super Mario Brothers Musical Toothbrush Remix "Nintendo Game song"
Nintendo Music 2025[a] Original "Athletic Theme"
  1. ^ Added on October 27, 2025

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Note(s) Ref.
Japanese アスレチックのテーマ
Asurechikku no Tēma
Athletic Theme [1]
アスレチックBGM
Asurechikku BGM
Athletic BGM [8]

References[edit]