The Price of Perfection: A Look into the Injuries of Competitive Cheer
Remington and Flowers with their team Euphoria at the Summit competition in Florida
Pic creds: Kenzie Remington
By: Emma Travers
If you think cheerleading is all sideline chants and sparkly uniforms, you would be highly mistaken. Cheer might’ve started out that way, but it has quickly changed to something vastly different. The world of cheer has evolved from fun filled cheering on the sidelines to a world of intricate routines, stunts, dances, and most importantly, injuries.
In class I came across this article from NPR, Youth cheerleading is getting more athletic-- and riskier. After reading it I became intrigued by the world of competitive cheerleading. Specifically the injuries that come with it. I got the chance to interview two girls in competitive cheer to see what their experience is like as a competitive cheerleader.
Kenzie Remington, a cheerleader at Twist and Shout gym, has been in love with cheer since she was two years old. Remington used to cheer for Jenks but has since moved to just focusing on competitive cheer.
Remington loves cheer and can’t imagine life without it. Throughout these two years she has made countless new friends and memories that she will be forever grateful for. Cheer has also helped her grow as a person.
“I would say all star cheer is a good character building experience,” said Remington about her time in competitive cheer.
However, between all the fun also comes pain and lots of injuries. During her many years of cheer, Remington has been injured 7 times. Tearing her UCL, concussions, and tearing a few muscles in her foot just glaze the top of the injuries she has experienced.
Kennedy Flowers, another athlete at Twist and Shout, has also gotten her fair share of injuries. Including a pulled Hamstring, broken fingers, countless black eyes, and a few concussions.
These girls have found themselves with more injuries in these years of competitive cheer than in all their years of school cheer. This has nothing to do with the gym they cheer at and the coaches there, but instead it has everything to do with the amount of time and effort their bodies put into practicing and perfecting these routines.
Remington and Flowers are at the gym at least five days a week. That comes out to equal about fifteen hours each week for each of them. Fifteen hours spent running a two minute routine over and over again.
Remington and Flowers at a cheer competition in California
Pic creds: Kenzie Remington
They spend so much time at the gym nailing their routines because competitions are so important to each team.
They also travel all around the U.S to compete against hundreds of other teams for a medal. In the past year, Remington and Flowers have gotten the chance to go to Florida, California, Indiana, Texas, and Kansas for different competitions.
“It is a fun feeling walking out on the floor and it gives me a rush of adrenaline,” said Flowers about when they finally get to compete and watch their hard work pay off.
Competition season is typically from October to May. And in these months they go to around 12 different competitions.
Each person has a specific part in each routine, so if one cheerleader gets hurt they don’t always have another person to take their spot. This being said, they often have to practice injured. Because everyone for the most part practices while injured, they will just continue to hurt their body more and not give it the time it needs to heal.
Remington and Flowers with their team Euphoria at the NCA competition in Dallas.
Pic creds: Kennedy Flowers
“Everyone is always injured all the time,” said Remington about her two teams.
These athletes are so invested into their team that even if they are hurt, they feel like they shouldn’t sit out so the team still gets in the practice it needs. Even though this speaks good things to their character, the well being of their bodies should come before the routine.
Competitive cheerleading is full of hardworking, strong, and dedicated athletes who pour their hearts, souls, and bodies into those two and a half minute routines. Between all the injuries, cheer is such a fun environment and Remington and Flowers will always look back and be thankful for their time in the competitive cheer world.
If you want to learn more about the sport of competitive cheer you can visit this link. You can also visit this link to explore some statistics behind the injuries that are involved in the world of cheer.
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