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The Courier
29-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Cupar's golden girls: The Nicolson and Neville sisters bring world cheerleading glory home to Fife
When Cupar cheerleader Abbie Nicolson stepped off the mat at the annual International Cheer Union (ICU) World Championships in Orlando, Florida, heart still pounding and face still flushed from the lights, the last thing on her mind was gold. Like many of her teammates on Team Scotland's adaptive abilities Cheer squad, she had come to soak in the experience. It was her first trip to the United States. She never expected to leave as a world champion. But as the judges deliberated and finally announced that Scotland had taken gold, everything changed. 'If I could bottle that up and put it in a jar and keep that forever – it was just the best feeling,' she says, her voice still catching weeks later. 'It was amazing when we got called down as being in the top three. But then the minute we got announced as the winners, my sister Emily grabbed me and gave me a big hug. We all hugged. 'I was literally living the dream from being a little girl. That was the goal. In cheerleading, you can't get any better than that. So this was literally the dream coming true.' For Abbie, 20, and Emily, 23, that golden moment was the culmination of more than a decade of training, sacrifice, and shared ambition. But they weren't alone in their celebration. Fellow Cupar natives Hannah Neville, 25, and Evan Neville, 27 – sisters, coaches, and lifelong cheerleaders themselves – were right there on the mat too. Together, the four women made history, contributing to Scotland's first-ever podium finish and gold medal. For a team of just 30 athletes, having four from the same small Fife town was remarkable. For the Cupar community, it's a point of immense pride. Both sets of sisters grew up in Cupar, attending Castlehill Primary and Bell Baxter High School. But they also grew up as next-door neighbours. Emily began cheerleading around eight years old with the local Diamond Allstars Cheer and Dance at Cupar Sports Centre, coached by Bryony-Leigh Murray. 'A few girls from school were doing it, so I thought I'd give it a go,' Emily remembers. 'I tried other activities too, but Cheer just stuck. I loved being part of a team.' Abbie was about six when she caught the Cheer bug. 'I used to tag along when mum dropped Emily off. At first, Emily was raging – she wanted something of her own,' she laughs. 'But I begged to try a class, and that was it. I was hooked.' Eventually, they moved from Diamond Allstars to Glow Extreme Cheer and Dance, a club founded and coached by none other than Hannah Neville. Hannah launched the business in October 2022. Initially a side project while at university, the club has since exploded in popularity, prompting her to go full-time by April 2023. Working with her sister Evan, she now coaches over 120 girls weekly, with a further 50 on a growing waitlist. Hannah's journey began at age two with dance, moving into Cheer by seven. She later joined Fife's gymnastics team from ages nine to 13 before returning to Cheer. Hannah lives with scoliosis – a twisted spine. The adaptive category at the ICU Worlds requires at least 25% of the team to have a disability. But this doesn't hold her back. 'I have more pain than average, but staying strong and active really helps,' she says. Other Cupar girls have gone for cheerleading glory in recent years. Hannah was there last year when they finished fourth. But to share this win with her sister and friends means so much. 'My parents, Lesley and James, are over the moon,' she adds. 'My mum has driven me across the country for years. It feels like I've made it all worth it.' It's a sentiment shared by sister Evan, who studies photography at Fife College. 'Going to the Worlds in America was a dream in itself, but doing it with the three of them made it even more incredible. I couldn't have imagined doing it with anyone else.' Selection for Team Scotland wasn't easy. Emily auditioned last summer, with training beginning in September. Abbie, who'd auditioned before Emily, was originally a reserve but stepped in just six weeks before the competition when another athlete suffered a broken knee. Even after making the team, there was constant work – training every Saturday in Glasgow, perfecting routines, pushing themselves, fundraising. Both sisters were also juggling university studies in nursing. Emily has been studying at Dundee University and Abbie at Napier in Edinburgh. The adaptive abilities category includes athletes with and without disabilities. Routines combine stunts, jumps, tumbling, and dance. 'It's like gymnastics – you're scored from the moment you step on the mat to the second the music stops,' Abbie explains. Emily specialises in stunting; Abbie does stunts, jumps, and tumbling. For both Nicolsons, it was their first time in America. People at home in Cupar watched the livestream. After advancing from the semifinals, Team Scotland waited anxiously during the final awards ceremony. The moment the gold medal was confirmed, the four Cupar girls huddled together – 'screaming, crying and jumping for total joy.' 'There's this clip from the live stream,' Emily says. 'It shows the four of us hugging, just losing it. All the years, the early mornings, the injuries, the drives to Glasgow – it was all for that moment.' Then came the medals, the national anthem, and something extra special: an ICU gold ring, awarded only to world champions. Back home in Cupar, the reaction has been euphoric. 'I was at a local dance event the other week,' Abbie says, 'and strangers were coming up to me saying congratulations, asking to see the ring. I've never experienced anything like it.' 'It's a tight-knit town,' Emily adds. 'People from my work, the university, even my nail salon – they all watched the stream. It feels like the whole of Cupar was behind us.' Cheerleading has been big in Cupar for some time. But Hannah says it's 'wild' how interest has exploded since they returned. Cupar councillor John Caffrey offered his 'hearty congratulations', adding: 'Cupar has suffered some knockbacks recently but as always it is the young people who shine through.' For four ordinary young women from a quiet corner of Fife, is the kind of achievement that reshapes dreams. It comes as the popularity of cheerleading, now recognised as an Olympic sport, continues to grow in the UK. The Nicolson and Neville sisters have shown what can happen when passion, perseverance and a powerful sense of community collide. And somewhere in Cupar, the next generation of young people is watching – and dreaming of gold.
Business Wire
23-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Memphis Business Journal Spotlights New Documentary on Varsity Spirit Founder Jeff Webb
MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As reported by the Memphis Business Journal, a feature documentary is now in production about Jeff Webb, the influential founder of Varsity Spirit and president of the International Cheer Union. The film will explore Webb's journey from launching Varsity Spirit in 1974 to leading the global push to make cheerleading an Olympic sport. The documentary is directed by veteran filmmaker Frank Rainone and produced by September Club, the award-winning production company behind acclaimed documentaries such as Murder Among the Mormons, The Last Blockbuster, and Jim & Andy. The film is expected to be released in 2025. 'It's a great story. He's an American success story,' said Rainone in the Business Journal interview. 'I've never in my life seen, honestly, a story quite like this.' Filming has already taken place in Memphis, and the production team has compiled more than 50 hours of archival footage. The film will spotlight Webb's transformative role in modern cheerleading, his efforts to bring the sport to the Olympic stage, and the broader cultural impact of Varsity Spirit on American youth and athletics as well as the challenges he faced along the way. Webb stepped down as chairman of Varsity Spirit in 2020 and continues to serve as president of the International Cheer Union, which has led the successful charge for cheerleading's recognition by the International Olympic Committee. For more information, you can read the full Memphis Business Journal article here.
STV News
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Scotland's cheerleading team takes home gold at ICU World Championships
Scotland's national cheerleading team has had plenty to cheer about after clinching gold on the world stage. The squad – made up of members from across the country – flew out to Orlando, Florida last month to compete in the annual International Cheer Union (ICU) World Championships. Held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, within the Walt Disney World Resort, they were joined by teams and individuals from 120 countries – all vying to be crowned victors. This year, it was Team Scotland's turn to take home the crown, coming top in the Unified Adaptive Abilities Median Cheer category. 'It was such a great moment,' says team captain Joshua Craik. 'I was just unbelievably proud of everyone. Being able to watch them grow throughout the season and just develop, and being able to go and do what we planned to do – winning gold – completely topped it all off. 'It felt unreal. I don't know if there's going to be another feeling that's going to match it.' The adaptive abilities unified cheer division brings disabled and non-disabled athletes together as one team. STV News Scotland's cheer team takes home gold from world championships in Florida For the ICU World Championships, squads are required to be comprised of 25% or more athletes with a physical, sensory, or intellectual disability. Team Scotland member Danielle Brown has been cheering for 22 years, but was told by doctors and physios that she would never be able to dance again. 'Clearly, I've proved them wrong,' she said. 'Being a part of Team Scotland and being a part of a unified team, especially in adaptive ability, it's just such an amazing feeling to be out there with a team that's from all across Scotland as well.' Fellow team member Annie Headrick added: 'I never thought I could do it with my disability. I'm blind in one eye, so catching and tumbling aren't really my forte. 'But it worked out really well and they've been really supportive in helping me learn more with it as well. '[The competition] was actually insane. Everyone was cheering everyone on. It was just really positive and we were all just sharing what we love, so it was really nice to be there.' Cheerleading's popularity in the UK continues to grow, but often its status as a sport is overlooked. It can be a dangerous activity due to the nature of routines, particularly those involving lifts and stunts; yet it still carries stereotypes that athletes have fought to dismiss over the years. 'It's so much harder than people realise,' says Team Scotland coach Victoria Orton-Bichener. 'Everyone comes to us and just says 'what sport are you cheering for?' or 'have you got your pom poms?' and all this sort of stuff, but we're here to show people that it's so much more than that. 'It's so difficult, the technical skills that these girls are performing, they're so hard and they take years to perfect. So we just want to show people what cheerleading can really be about.' STV News Cheerleaders 'unbelievably proud' after ICU victory The International Olympic Committee finally recognised cheerleading as a sport in its own right back in 2021. It hasn't made it into the line-up of sports set to debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, but calls are now underway for it to be included in Brisbane 2032. Here, sportscotland also granted cheerleading recognition as a sport in February 2025. Team Scotland hopes that this, along with their huge win in the US, will prompt more respect. National team director Colette Cheape said: 'This is so important in recognising the tireless effort from athletes, coaches, officials, supporters. Over many years they've been working hard to gain the sport the respect that it deserves. 'It's shown the discipline and the athleticism and the commitment that's involved in the sport. Now that sportscotland have turned round and recognised us, that we are indeed a sport, it opens up so many more opportunities for us, and the growth and development of the sport. 'The future's looking really bright and we're really excited to see where it takes us.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Citizen
08-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Parktown High cheerleader elated after receiving South African blazer
Parktown High School for Girls learner Jocelyn Knox reflected on being awarded her South African blazer for cheerleading. Jocelyn, and her team, recently came back from Orlando, America, where they competed in the International Cheer Union (ICU) World Cheerleading Championships, the official world championships for youth, junior, and senior national cheerleading teams. 'We recently returned from competing at worlds from April 23–25,' said Jocelyn. 'It was an incredible experience. All six South African teams successfully made it to the finals. While not medaling, we did extremely well, and have more work ahead of us for the ICU World Cheerleading Championships in 2027.' Read more: Parktown High School for Girls hosts surprise performance by Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra The Grade 10 learner said that when she began the sport in Grade 7, she was drawn to how close the team was, and the strong bond everyone had with each other. 'I loved the idea of being thrown in the air and tumbling across the mat. I love the family I gained through it, and the lessons I learned from it.' Also read: Parktown High School for Girls cross country teams excel in early season races The cheerleader's accolades include: being awarded her provincial Colours in 2023 by the Gauteng Majorette and Cheerleading Association (GMCA), receiving her South African Majorette and Cheerleading Association (SAMCA) Colours in 2024 at a provincial competition, and becoming the national and African champions for the high, large, co-ed category, in September 2024, after competing at nationals in Cape Town. Jocelyn added that receiving her South African blazer was a long time coming, with her journey stemming from her four years in gymnastics, but it wasn't an easy task, with her first trials for the SA team taking place in April 2024. 'Every athlete that was on either team, or in the training programme, trained together for six months, until the second period of trials in October. While training for the national team we all still trained with our actual teams, and continued competing in all the local, provincial, and national competitions that happened along the way. Once the second round of trials was over, the official teams were selected. ' Jocelyn concluded that she wants to continue cheerleading for as long as she can. Participating in competitions for many years to come, and, hopefully, being part of the team that makes history for South Africa with a win. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: Parktown High School for Girls raises funds through a fun day At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
RTÉ News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Irish team makes history at ICU cheerleading championship in Florida
Ireland has won its first ever world medal in cheerleading and earned its highest senior team placement to date. A team of 18 athletes aged 12-14 from counties Galway and Kerry secured a bronze medal in the youth coed median division of the 2025 International Cheer Union (ICU) World Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Florida. It is the first time an Irish national cheer team has medaled at the ICU World Championships. Another team, made up of 17 athletes from Galway, Killarney, Enniskillen and Belfast, finished in the seventh place, the highest ever placement for an Irish senior cheerleading team at the event. It marks a major breakthrough for cheerleading in Ireland and highlights the continued growth of the athletes on the global stage. Over 70 nations and thousands of athletes take part in the ICU World Cheerleading Championships each year. President of Cheer Sport Ireland, Fiona Collumb, said they are "beyond proud" of the Youth Coed Team securing third place. "After 14 years of attending, this is a truly remarkable accomplishment," she said.
