After this years breakdancing scandal with Raygun in the Paris 2024 Olympics, the debate over whether dance and cheerleading should be considered a sport continues to heat up.
Broadcasted media portrayals of dance and cheerleading across streaming platforms is sparking further debate on whether dance and cheerleading can also claim a place as a competitive sport.
Vice President of University of Wollongong Cheer and Dance Club (UOWCAD) Isabel Bowmer believes it is time cheerleading be considered a sport.
“I think it’s really frustrating that, especially because of the media, people just see it as ‘DCC Cowboys’ with pompoms and tiny shorts and they don’t see all the training that goes into it,” she said.
“We are fighting so hard to get people to respect us and look at it as a sport.
“Then people always throw the ‘it’s not at the Olympics’ excuse at you.”
In July 2021 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially recognised cheerleading as a sport. But is yet to be included in the Olympic games, missing out on the 2024 Paris Olympic roster.
For athletes like Bowner, the exclusion of cheerleading in the Olympics was discouraging.
“It requires power, strength, and flexibility,” said Miss Bowmer.
“It requires all forms of exercise and activity, and you have to smile all the way through it and make it look easy.”
UOWCAD Club President, Kirra Phillips believes that the global presence of cheerleading pushes the sport towards a more deserving spot in the future of Olympics.
“With it being such a globally recognised sport, I think it’s important that they advocate for having it in the next Olympics,” she said.
“I think it would also show people and mitigate that stigma of cheer not being a sport, if it is recognised.”
Phillips also highlighted the similarities of cheerleading compared to other team-related sports.
“At the end of the day, anything where you don’t work together as a team means youre not going to win,” she said.
“That is the definition of a team sport, it’s working together for a common goal.”
While audiences are dazzled by the polished routines and sparkly uniforms, the physical and mental requirements Ms Phillips believes makes cheerleading a serious sport, not just an activity.
The sports for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics have already been selected and cheerleading is not included.
The next possible opportunity for cheerleading to be considered will be the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
Cheerleaders across NSW gathered for the AASCF States championships, with UOW’s cheerleading team Ruby competing for the first time. Diamonds came on-top as the non-tumble grand champions, advanced opal ducks coming in second, and lastly Uni level ½ Ruby and Topaz coming in third. Now the UOW teams are gearing up for the National Championships on the Gold Coast in December.
