Today’s cheerleaders

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CV Allstars team competes.
(Photo: Arlen Redekop / The Vancouver Sun)

Adapted from The Vancouver Sun
Level 3

Cheerleaders are athletes.

Cheerleaders can start training in elementary school.

Cheerleaders train in dance, tumbling and gymnastics.

The sport is dangerous.

Read the PDF and do the exercise

Visit the links

  • View the photo gallery at Vancouver Sun.

Miller Olson of the Perfect Storm Freeze team holds her sister Alden. (Photo: Arlen Redekop / The Vancouver Sun)

Miller Olson of the Perfect Storm Freeze team holds her sister Alden.
(Photo: Arlen Redekop / The Vancouver Sun)

Members fly up to 20 feet in the air.

Most participants are girls. A few boys compete, too.

Competitions
Cheerleaders complete about six times a year.

Vancouver holds the Sea to Sky International Cheerleading and Dance Competition.

It is the biggest competition outside of the U.S. It draws 2,500 athletes from 150 teams.

The biggest competition in the world is the Super Bowl of Cheer held at Walt Disney World.

Cheerleaders hope that the sport will one day be an Olympic event.