His shirt is soaked with sweat and blood from scrapes and burns; he begins the long drive home with his mind racing. Try as he might, he cannot free his thoughts from the hundreds of techniques and moves. He makes a mental note to buy more bandages and wraps for his wrists and ankles. He cannot fathom another day of practice, another day of beating up his body for a two-minute routine. He is a cheerleader. 

And yet, somehow, he is not considered to be an athlete. 

Competitive cheerleading, such as that shown in the Netflix docuseries Cheer, has only existed since the mid-1900s. As soldiers went off to the World Wars and many women were left to take care of the homefront, cheerleading became popularized and ultimately, feminized. 

With a foundation in acrobatics and gymnastics, it is peculiar for the credibility of cheerleading to be doubted so heavily. Like football players and weightlifters, cheerleaders must uphold certain standards of traditional strength. Like marathon runners, cheerleaders must have pristine cardiovascular endurance. And unlike any other athlete, a cheerleader must do all of this with an unwavering smile on their face. 

Collegiate and All-Star cheerleading currently engages close to three million people across the United States from a young age until one’s mid-twenties. However, because cheerleading has roots in the American football scene, many competitive teams and athletes are not taken seriously. Cheerleading originated as a means for supporting and encouraging male football players, not as an entity of its own. As a result, many people do not understand the dedication the sport requires or the commitment necessary of the team members. 

All cheerleaders face the stigma surrounding their sport, but males face the brunt of it. Being that cheerleading is a more traditionally feminine sport, male cheerleaders often face judgment from onlookers and other athletes. No other sport provides the safe, welcoming environment cheerleading does. 

It was not until 2021 that the International Olympic Committee recognized cheerleading as an Olympic sport. The impact this decision will have on athletics will no doubt be paramount, but only if loyal sports fans start respecting cheerleading as much as they respect other athletics. 

Before subscribing to the ever-popular “cheer isn’t a sport!” attitude, think twice about the dedication of cheerleaders and the history of cheerleading. It is time for cheerleading to receive the recognition it deserves, which begins with the cheerleaders themselves. 

Drained, he finishes the tumbling pass and looks up to find the crowd roaring for him. Finally, he thinks, me, a cheerleader, receiving cheers of my own. 

“Cheerleading Becomes an Olympic Sport.” The Mountain Lion Messenger, 3 May 2022, https://mountainlionmessenger.com/1192/sports/cheerleading-becomes-an-olympic-sport/#:~:text=On%20July%2020%2C%202021%2C%20The,that%20cheerleaders%20are%20considered%20Olympic.

Grindstaff, Laura Anne. “Cheerleading.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/sports/cheerleading.

“History of Cheerleading.” USA Cheer, 6 Oct. 2022, https://usacheer.org/history-of-cheerleading.

“Know Your Role: Understanding the Different Types of Cheerleading.” Varsity.com, http://www.varsity.com.cn/en/pic_info.asp?id=166. 

“What Is All Star Cheer?” U.S. All Star Federation – Cheer & Dance, https://www.usasf.net/cheer.

“What Is Competitive Cheerleading.” Varsity.com, 20 Feb. 2018, https://www.varsity.com/news/what-is-competitive-cheerleading/.