U of A cheerleading team brings back gold from world championships

In August, the University of Alberta Cheer team travelled to Croatia to represent Canada at the Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) World University Cheerleading Championships. They came back with gold in the All-Female Elite division. 

The All-Female Elite division is for teams of all women competing at the elite level. The elite level is one below the highest difficulty available. The team competed against China in the final.  

For Chichi Igbelina, captain of the FISU U of A Cheer team, this was her first time competing internationally in cheerleading. 

“I keep looking back to the picture that they took of me holding the trophy with the uniform on. I’m like, that’s me. I was representing Canada, and we did it. We won gold. I couldn’t believe it,” Igbelina said.

Although they won gold, the team only had three months to prepare for the championship. With practices two to three times a week, the team had to go up a difficulty level, from advanced to elite.

Nicole Chang, a coach for the U of A Cheer team, said that they created a new routine. The team only had “about” two months to practice. 

“We learned new skills and had to get everyone meshing together. We created some new groups within our team because not everyone from the original U of A team was attending,” Chang said.

“Being able to bring about half the team from that time was really amazing” Chang says

The FISU championship happens every two years. Because of COVID-19, the 2022 championship in Greece was cancelled just a month before the U of A cheer team was supposed to attend. 

“About half of our team that went this year was part of that 2022 team, myself included. I obviously feel for those who weren’t able to participate this time around. But being able to bring about half the team from that time was really amazing,” Chang said.

Firstly, Cheer Canada had to select the team to represent Canada at the championship. The university also had to give various approvals.

“I think it exceeded a lot of people’s expectations in the end, which made it worth the wait,” Chang said.

Igbelina was prepared for the different levels of cheer and new skills that were going to be presented and seen at the competition. 

“The level of competitiveness was almost equal across the board. Up until the last second, we didn’t know who was going to win. That was one of the best feelings,” Igbelina said.

The team will now resume its regular season. They will focus on competing locally and nationally, with performances and sideline cheer at varsity games. 

“The work ethic of the team has really changed since we had a short amount of time before we had to go for FISU. I’m hoping the same energy continues, and that we can put out some really great routines at local competitions the way we did internationally,” Igbelina said.