At cheerleading competitions, the audience always sees just one side of the sport — the one with the perfect smiling cheerleaders and entertaining routines.
It’s the nature of the sport. The athletes are supposed to give the crowd energy and excitement, so they can’t show any weakness or struggles when they’re out on the performance mat.
But it’s also a very tough sport, and these young athletes have to invest a lot of time and effort in training to be the best. That’s the side of cheerleading that audiences rarely see.
To show just how much the sport means to the athletes, and how hard they’ve trained, we decided to record 15-second interviews with the teams immediately before and after they performed at CHEER 2015, and upload them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Here’s what we got:
D'Starz capt Saloma Gomez is beaming with pride after their performance. For more: http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf #Cheer2015 pic.twitter.com/DB8nxTBkEs
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
Titans Junior captain Charis Lee talks about her team's performance. For more: http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf #cheer2015 pic.twitter.com/eIswNwqKw6
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
Blitzerz capt Emma Xin Li Maxim-Maddock talks bout her team's performance #cheer2015
For more: http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf pic.twitter.com/E7QvwOLbqC
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
Rayvens capt Lee Cher-Maine spoke about the performance after a pyramid fell. Go to http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf #CHEER2015 pic.twitter.com/vfsjM3NoS7
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
Vulcanz's Ariel Yew is one proud captain! Catch live updates and full footage at http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf. #Cheer2015 pic.twitter.com/mQCwlMbmTO
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
Their routine didn't go so well but D'Starz co-capt Marina Mahmud is still proud. (http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf) #cheer2015 pic.twitter.com/w1QyZGWSeM
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
STOMPERS won't stop stomping till they conquer! Live updates and full footage at http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf #cheer2015 pic.twitter.com/ZmiLbjHPIE
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
Tears paid off with awesome performance. Catch live updates and full footage at http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf #cheer2015 pic.twitter.com/UFHrbrsV4o
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
Zelts Co-Ed captain is confident they can hit a perfect routine. More videos at http://t.co/ZvuVtxL1Eo #CHEER2015 pic.twitter.com/jqJqnZrBnK
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
TITANS supported all the way from Ipoh! Catch live updates and full footage at http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf #cheer2015 pic.twitter.com/Xe5hZzL2tB
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
VIBRANT girls work to support cheer passion! Catch live updates and full footage at http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf #cheer2015 pic.twitter.com/ay5qq9Q2KB
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
IGNITE competing without guidance of a coach! Catch live updates and full footage at http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf pic.twitter.com/fdTxWQO8re
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
Captain proud of perfect routine with 6 days practice!! Updates and full footage at http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf #cheer2015 pic.twitter.com/LtgF1HB8h8
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
MURIEL never gives up!! Catch live updates and full footage at http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf #cheer2015 pic.twitter.com/ee4rv4ccdk
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
Xtreme Co-Ed captain hopes all the teams have "the time of their lives". More at http://t.co/lNvh7gbpcf #CHEER2015 pic.twitter.com/HcUMalZotu
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
Four month old Zodiac Co-Ed Red made it this far! Live updates and full footage at http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf #cheer2015 pic.twitter.com/6i1nqsa3Pd
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
Zelts leaving no one out for excellence! Catch live updates and full footage at http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf #cheer2015 pic.twitter.com/dx9K6lEHTb
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
Zelts Junior team captain Valerie Aw talks about the team's progress. #cheer2015
http://t.co/N3CfCxRcEf pic.twitter.com/Fhb40bswGi
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
Mathilde cheerleader Ho Swii Peng from SMK Infant Jesus Convent talks about their performance earlier. #CHEER2015 pic.twitter.com/6bqW7v09hf
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
And here’s how much it means to win at CHEER:
And the champions for the All-Girl School Junior category is….. Team RAYVENS from SM Sri KL!!!! pic.twitter.com/B13v27Wfpz
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
MICKEYMITEZ WINS THE CO-ED DIVISION!! CONGRATS! To watch their full routine, go to http://t.co/ZvuVtxL1Eo #CHEER2015 pic.twitter.com/L6txSZ8hjQ
— R.AGE (@thestar_rage) August 15, 2015
Tell us what you think!