A team of 22 athletes ranging in age from 11-16 have returned from the ‘Future Cheer Brings It On 2023’ competition in Disneyland Paris, not only the victors of their elite division, but also having achieved the ultimate aim of claiming a bid to secure their spot on the world cheerleading stage at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, in Orlando in May 2024.
Their extravagant ‘bid-winning’ routine and perfect performance at Gymnase Guy Kappes, Paris in an ‘International under 16 level 1’ division that is flooded with competition, was praised by the judging panel, and will see the team head off to ‘The Cheerleading Worlds’ as their better-known amongst the astute Cheerleading community.
The newly famed Swansea Falcons’ international team, collectively known as Lady Rays train at West Street Gym, in Gorseinon, where they spend countless hours dedicated to perfecting their stunts and tumbles, whilst working on their dynamic and energetic routines. They sacrifice public holidays, birthday celebrations, and much more to attend training. That commitment to themselves and each other, teamed with the world-class coaching they enjoy at Swansea Falcons has presented the opportunity that only dreams are made of.
At a time when house-hold costs soar to an all-time high, Swansea Falcons as a club have a number of planned initiatives and long-term goals that they are busy fundraising for.
Each season a cheerleader will attend somewhere in the region of 5 competitions typically between February and June, all paid for by parental contributions, with costs amounting to uniform, travel, and hotel stays, beyond just athlete entry and spectator fees. And for Lady Rays; the team who are also destined for Florida, parents of these talented athletes are turning to friends, local businesses, governing bodies and charities to “help get the girls to Florida”, as whilst it’s a dream come true for the team, it’s a dream that also comes with a very big price tag attached.
Cheerleading is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, with over 89,000 athletes across the UK participating at recreational, competitive and elite level, it’s a fusion of high intensity dance and gymnastics. And whilst Cheerleading isn’t necessarily a sport, you’d typically expect to be synonymous with Wales; Swansea Falcons are bucking that notion, they are Wales longest running all-star cheerleading program, formed in 2007. Today they welcome boys and girls from the age of 3 right through to adulthood, with members joining from all over Swansea, Llanelli, Neath & Port Talbot with some travelling from as far as Carmarthen & Merthyr Tydfil.
Teams range in age and ability from Tiny recreational teams – all the way to Senior Level 4. The professional club run by World Champion Cheerleader Sophie King, now welcomes in excess of 185 children each week, with a staggering 50% growth in numbers in little over a year. All of this from a shared gym in Gorseinon.
Swansea Falcons Head Coach Sophie King said: “We are incredibly proud of Lady Rays achievements so far, they went to Paris with a winning attitude and were a credit to the club, their hometown, and we most definitely put Wales on the map! The transformation in the gym is incredible, with everyone sharing their success, they are inspiring our smallest of cheerleaders to dream big.”
Anyone wanting to support Lady Rays to reach Florida, can visit their Just Giving Page.
