Name Nicole

Team: Team England all girl Primer

Position: Flyer

Instagram @nicoleeclaire

 

What does it mean to you to represent your country?

It’s a huge honour and something which I have always aspired to do. I feel so lucky to have been given the opportunity.

What do you most enjoy about Cheerleading?

I feel like the bond with your cheerleading team is like in no other sport, and that’s what I enjoy most. You have to have so much trust in each other and be so in sync with your stunt group and team to make it work. I know everyone always says it and it sounds so cliché, but it really is like a big family.

 

What do you feel are your main strengths in Cheerleading?

Being a flyer, I love level 6 baskets and dismounts. I get to throw myself around, not just on Team England but also on my home level 6 team at Trailblazer Allstars. This is where I fell in love with level 6!

How many years have you been on Team England for e.g. first year, second year etc

This is my first year on Team England and I am so excited to take the floor with new and old friends.

Why did you want to try out for Team England?

This was the first year that Team England was competing Level 6 and this is my most favourite level. I was also a part of the development team last year and learned lots of new skills and wanted to continue to compete for my country at Worlds.

Name a quote that keeps you motivated.

“Those who fear the fall will never fly” – So much so that I have it tattooed on me!

Favourite skills e.g cheer stunt, tumble or dance move.

The back one and a half basket that I do with my home team, Trailblazer Allstars.

Share something that makes you happy:

Travelling and seeing the world.

Which ICU Team are you most excited to see and why?

Team USA Coed Premier – I saw them compete last year at Worlds, they are absolutely incredible and inspirational.

 

How many years of experience do you have in your field?

I have been cheering for around 7 years now with Trailblazer Allstars, starting out on a level 3 team having previously done acrobatic gymnastics. I now compete on the Level 6 team and was part of the team who came 10^th in the world at last year’s Worlds.

What was it like when you attended try-outs for Team England?

Because I was on the development team, as were many other athletes trying out, there were plenty of familiar faces which made it less daunting. Ant and Heidi who are our coaches are so lovely and friendly which made it easier too.

What has been your major highlights/achievements while being a part of Team England?

I think my highlight would have to be meeting new, really talented athletes from other clubs and learning from each other.

Describe the funniest thing that’s happened to you while you were at training.

Obviously, it wasn’t funny at the time, but looking back it’s quite funny – Spending an evening in a neck brace in a London Hospital, 3 hours away from home.

 

What stunts/ techniques have you found interesting to learn and why?

Having never competed at level 5 before, learning some of the level 5 lib sequences was something I had never really done before. It’s always good to learn new skills to push yourself and progress further.

What does Worlds mean to you?

Obviously, it’s every cheerleader’s dream to compete at Worlds and I feel so privileged to be in such a small cohort of people who can say they have been on Team England – Plus being on the team the first year they compete in Premier is amazing too.

If you have been to Worlds before what did it teach you?

To get hold of your nerves and not worry about what’s in front of you in the routine. Embrace the moment, you only have two and a half minutes on the floor – enjoy it.

What advice would you give to someone who was scared to try-out for Team England this year?

The tryouts themselves is an experience where you learn loads, you’ve got nothing to lose.

What will you miss about Team England and why?

The people on the team. We travel the furthest for training (3 hours) so it will be so difficult to see my teammates after Worlds as we live so far away. I will look forward to seeing them and catching up at competitions though.

What are you most excited to experience at Worlds 2019?

Show-offs at Allstar Sports – It’s a great atmosphere and something I have never done before. The support that Team England has is incredible so for people to turn up to watch us is insane.

Name a team from the United Kingdom and internationally that you are most excited to watch and explain why?

This year Trailblazer Allstars is taking a Senior Level 3 team to the Summit, a lot of the athletes who are competing are girls we have had on the team since they were in Tiny, so to watch them compete at the Summit having known and coached them for years will be really special.

TGLC is a personal favourite team of mine – I just love how creative their routines are and the atmosphere when they perform. I’m really looking forward to seeing them too.

Thank you for sharing your journey with us and we wish you all the success at Worlds 2019.

If you want to follow Nicole journey check out @teamenglandcheer