Sophie’s gold medal hopes
Sophie Donaldson will soon head to the United States for the world’s largest international cheerleading competition, where 30,000 cheerleaders will compete for glory.
The Buckland teenager is on the Junior Team New Zealand squad and she believes they have a good chance of winning the junior girls division at the International Cheer Union World Cheerleading Championships.
In the lead-up to the event, held on April 25-27, she and her team mates will train in a five-day bootcamp from 9am-9pm, to help ensure they bring home the gold.
Around 70 nations will be competing, with New Zealand sending three teams to the event.
‘‘I’m really proud and excited to be representing New Zealand in a sport which I absolutely love and hope to do New Zealand proud,’’ Sophie said.
Sophie, 12, belongs to the All Star Legacy Club and has been cheerleading since she was three years old.
Her mum Tash Donaldson said she was eagerly anticipating watching Sophie on the world stage.
‘‘That’s her fulfilling her dream, it’s pretty amazing, I’ll probably cry when they are on...I’m proud that she gets to go where she always wanted to go.
‘‘If they win, they get a big gold medal and a gold (world championship) ring which is what every cheerleader wants.’’
Sophie and her team will stay at the Walt Disney World Resort, and as soon as they get off the plane, they will begin training for the competition.
Her strength is in tumbling, which Donaldson said she always had a knack for.
‘‘Ever since she’s been little she’s tumbled and cartwheeled and flipped her way through airports and supermarkets.’’