[VIDEO] Cheerleading: two Quebec teams crowned world champions

BET À DAY

The St-Louis Academy Arsenal cheerleaders proudly wore their white jackets on Monday with the word “champion” embroidered on them, as well as their gold medals gleaned a little over a year ago. a week at the prestigious World Championship, played in Orlando, Florida.

A very tough competition, in which the two teams from the Quebec school beat athletes from all over the world to win the junior (6th grade to 3rd grade) and senior (4th and 5th grade) titles. in the “Non Tumbling” category (without floor gymnastics). 

One of the cheerleading teams of the Arsenal of the St-Louis Academy, in Quebec, competing during the World Championships in ESPN Wide World of Sports in February 2023, in Orlando.

These medals are the result of years of effort for the Arsenal teams, who participated for the first time in the Championship disputed at ESPN Wide World of Sports in 2013. 

The girls had accumulated good results over the years, finishing in particular in second and third place. But they had never managed to climb on the first step of the podium. 

“When we won, I didn't understand anything… said Isabella Pellerin. I saw everyone celebrating, but I didn't realize what was happening.” 

Teams “everywhere”

Yet Arsenal cheerleaders are used to big honours. Last year, in particular, five teams from the school took first place in the Provincial Championships of the Réseau du sport sportif du Québec (RSEQ). 

The cheerleading athletes from the Arsenal of the St-Louis Academy in Quebec celebrated their victory at the World Championship with a visit to the Disney World amusement park in Orlando.

Except, of course, nothing compares to the World Championship, where there were “teams all over the venue, big teams all over the place,” which the athletes “weren't used to seeing.” < /p>

“It was stressful!” launched Kashemire Bédard, who believes that the many competitions the Academy has participated in over the years have helped prepare teenage girls for this great moment. 

Expertise pays off

And for the coaches, who have been involved in the program for years, this great triumph rewards years of effort, during which they have tried to be at the forefront and guide their athletes so that they stand out.&nbsp ;

Because in the United States, “singing”, or shouting the name of the team and its colors, has always been an integral part of cheerleading routines, they explain. 

In Quebec, “it's coming back, and we're a bit of a precursor,” said Catherine Guimont. 

“It was a long-term job spread over several years to succeed in getting to this type of cheerleading. We have become better thanks to these participations [in the World Championship]”, she noted. 

“We inculcate a culture of work ethic, more than results. We try to keep them focused, in order to transmit to them beautiful values, which they will be able to keep outside of their sport, pointed out Geneviève Lafrance. And so much the better when that translates into results.” 

Collège Charles-Lemoyne, in Longueuil, also took part in the competition. The high school won second place in the “Medium Varsity Non Tumbling” category. 

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