Myth Busted: Cheer Is a Sport and Cheerleaders Are Athletes

Cheer is a sport. Cheerleaders are athletes. No, even better: they are superheroes. Cheerleaders fly, flip through the air, have superhuman strength, unbelievable endurance, they catch people when they fall and keep going when most people would give up.

It’s unfortunate that so many people think what cheerleaders do isn’t considered athletic. This stems from a stereotype perpetuated by social media and television of seeing cheerleaders standing on the sideline shouting at the audience and smiling — which is just a small element of cheer. Some shows often portray cheerleaders as bullies or being vain.

Looking at cheer as a whole they boast spirits, dance, tumble, jump, toss, fly, throw, flip, and basically defy laws of gravity and do what seems impossible. 

In order to bust this myth, we must first ask, what is an athlete? An athlete, according to the dictionary, is “a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.” It’s safe to say then that to be an athlete you have to be physically fit and you have to train and practice specific skill sets required by the game, exercise, or sport in which you’re participating. 

So, what do cheerleaders do? 

Cheerleaders practice — constantly. Morning practices, evening practices, they are always working on improving their own skills as well as the team’s skills as a whole. They work with coaches to learn new skills, stunts and routines. They constantly work out to build their stamina and strength.

Cheerleaders are always learning. They are memorizing new routines and learning new skills for upcoming games and competitions. 

Cheerleaders are strong. There aren’t many people who can throw another individual above their head to the beat of a song while smiling.

Learn more about why cheering is a sport in our Northeast Florida Spring 2021 magazine right here for FREE!