England’s Adaptive Cheerleading Champions Aim for Gold in Florida

Each year, teams from around the world gather in Florida to vie for supremacy at the ICU World Cheerleading Championships. Among them is Team England’s Adaptive Abilities Advanced squad, striving for a third consecutive title. The adaptive category allows athletes with and without disabilities to perform together, blending stunts, jumps, and cheer routines into formats designed for inclusivity.

Participation in adaptive cheer is expanding. Major UK competitions now host dedicated events for AA teams, and Wales and Scotland have also entered the global stage. Harrison Phipps, 23, who experiences profound hearing loss, relies on a support system during practice. An observer uses a microphone to relay counts to his hearing aids, helping him stay synchronized with his teammates.

“Often feeling confused during practice,” Phipps explains. “It’s because I don’t always catch the plan. My group tends to miss the first run.”

He notes that many teams include disabled athletes but compete in general categories, which can obscure their presence. Team England’s squad, however, meets the requirement of having at least 25% disabled members, with nearly half of its members qualifying. Age ranges from 11 to 50s, and the team includes a wheelchair user alongside those with ADHD and other conditions.

Adaptive cheer gained Olympic status in 2021, with Sport England later endorsing it as a sport. While the recognition was celebrated, funding remained contingent on formal National Governing Body (NGB) status. The ICU maintains broad criteria for disability classifications, enabling diverse athletes to join the same squad. Joey Gamper Cuthbert, chair of SportCheer England, highlights this flexibility: “You might see a visually impaired athlete and a wheelchair user on the same team, or someone who’s deaf.”

Cuthbert emphasizes the need for coaches to embrace inclusive practices. “There’s a lot of fear,” she says. “But with proper training, they can confidently guide disabled athletes.”

“Having such a mix inspires others to believe they can join in,” says Tifé Adegun, 28, who competes with scoliosis. “It’s not about limitations—it’s about possibility.”

Tifé adds that the thrill of performance offsets the effort required. “When I step on stage, everything else fades away. I just want to give my best for the team,” she says. Chloe Sheehan, 32, who has non-epileptic attack disorder, echoes this sentiment. “It’s amazing to know I can be myself and still excel as an athlete,” she explains. “The ICU Worlds is like the Olympics of cheer—this is where dreams take shape.”

Sheehan also highlights the safety measures in place. “A reserve athlete steps in when I’m dangerously tired,” she says. “That makes high-level training possible.”

The ICU Worlds is streamed on the Olympic channel, amplifying its reach. For those involved, it’s more than competition—it’s a celebration of resilience and diversity in sport. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays—or catch up here.