Cheerleading is a sport, despite the cultural associations with it as an insignificant women’s hobby. Cheerleading has been subject to cultural stereotypes and has been seen as a trivial female activity that was pursued merely to support male-dominated sports like football and basketball. Many people believe that cheerleading is not a legitimate sport, many men would rather classify bowling in billiards as sports over cheerleading. However, cheerleading is just as dangerous and physically demanding as other sports. Cheerleading requires strength, endurance, and dedication required to train and compete at a high level.

Cheerleading is a physically demanding activity that requires rigorous strength and conditioning schedules. Cheerleaders must train year-round to maintain their fitness levels to perform stunts safely. Despite this, cheerleading has a high rate of injury, with statistics showing that cheerleading had the second-highest rate of injury overall, second only to football, a sport that is consistently under review for its safety concerns. Additionally, cheerleading makes up 1.1% of All Sports Direct Catastrophic Injuries in high school, which is the same as men’s basketball. Similarly, high school concussion rates for cheerleading from 2020-2021 are higher than men’s soccer, basketball, and baseball, all sports that are perceived as more physically demanding. Cheerleaders must follow strict training schedules that include weight training, cardiovascular workouts, and exercises that target the muscles needed for cheerleading. The intense training and physical demands of cheerleading highlight its status as a sport.

In recent years, cheerleading has become recognized for the sport it is. The International Olympic Committee recognized the International Cheer Union in 2021, opening the doors for cheerleading in the Olympics. This recognition solidifies cheerleading’s status as a sport and allows cheerleaders to get the same recognition as in other highly competitive sports. In 2023, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee welcomed USA Cheer as a USOPC Affiliate Sports Organization alongside other sports that are not yet in the Olympic games, including American football and polo. The inclusion of cheerleading in the Olympics and recognition from sports organizations demonstrates that cheerleading is a legitimate sport and deserves the same respect and recognition as other sports.