By Zara M and Sofia B, Year 10 Journalist Leads

On the 9th-13th February, Cara M in Year 10 travelled to a Cheersport World Championship in Atlanta, Georgia with her team, Top Gun Sapphire. We decided to interview her to find out more about her sport, and what her overall competition experience was like.

Zara +Sofia: Hi Cara, thank you for agreeing to this interview! And congratulations on your team finishing first in your under 16 category!

Cara: Thank you for having me!

Z + S: Firstly, we would like to ask when you started cheerleading, and how you got into it?

C: I started competition cheer this year with Top Gun. I got into it because I watched this TV show Cheer on Netflix with my mom and I was hooked.

Z+S: That’s so interesting; we should definitely check that out! We were also wondering what training is like, such as how often do you train and what you do in the sessions?

C: We train every Monday through 6-9:15 pm, and we also have weekend sessions that can last 3-7 hours on some occasions. We practise stunts (which is when you see people being thrown in the air), jumps and tumbling for our routine – but mainly stunts as that is usually the hardest to do consistently. In Atlanta, we trained for 3 hours in the morning and then 3 hours in the evening if we were free.

Z+S:  That sounds so intense! What was your competition in Atlanta actually like?

C: It was a two-day competition in a massive centre in Georgia. Most American competitions last for two days which differs from UK competitions because they usually last for one.

Z+S: Cheerleading is such a unique sport, and so for people who may not be familiar with it, why do you like it, and what skills do you get out of it?

C: I like cheer because it is challenging and super fun to perform in front of crowds. It definitely has improved my strength and stamina.

Z+S: It must be so nerve wracking to perform in front of so many people! Does cheerleading help other aspects of your life/sports, and if so, how?

C: Cheer helps me focus on the tasks at hand because you can’t be thinking about different aspects of your routine when you are currently in the stunt, so it has definitely helped me to be present in the moment and be as focused as possible.

Z+S: What has been your favourite cheerleading experience or competition?

C: My favourite cheer experience was probably hitting zero at Cheersport (getting zero deductions) and watching some of the best teams from America in real life.I found that so inspiring! I also loved going to all of the American restaurants with my team and getting our Sapphire practice kits for the first time, the atmosphere was amazing.

Z+S: What tips do you have for a beginner/ someone who wants to start cheerleading?

C: I would definitely recommend working on strength and gaining muscle as it is hard to lift someone if you aren’t training. Take lots of stunting classes because it is such a crucial part to cheer (and definitely the hardest part)! And good luck!

Z+S: Thank you so much Cara, this was so inspiring and well done again for your amazing achievements!