ERIN CHEER CHARACTER MORGAN
NEW mum Erin Grant was back cheerleading when her son Ronan was just four months old.
Erin, 20, who lives in Coatbridge, is a member of the Cosmic Flames in Wishaw.
“I was a gymnast growing up and switched over to cheerleading six years ago,” she said. “I saw people on YouTube stunting and thought I’d try that.
“I’m a flier. Tumbling is similar to gymnastics but I’d never done the stunting before and I was terrified at the beginning.
“As a flier, I’m lifted into the air and into different positions and I stretch in the air.
“I took a year off when pregnant, came back for visits and I went back when Ronan was four months old. He’s now one.
“I was really scared it was going to be harder but as soon as I got back into training sessions with the girls, it was like I’d never been away.”
Erin loves cheerleading for the friendships.
She said: “The bond you have in your team is so strong and we know each other so well. And I really love performing – that buzz you get on the stage with everyone cheering you on, it’s a really good feeling.”
Erin has watched Cheer twice.
She said: “I think it’s quite funny. It shows the injuries and cheerleaders have that mentality of, ‘It’s just an injury – what’s a cracked rib?’
“I dislocated my knee when I landed funny on the floor. I was thrown in the air and was supposed to roll forward but I hurt my knee on the floor. I had to miss that routine but I did the other routine. It popped back in by itself and was quite swollen.
“I like Gabi in Cheer because she’s so flexible and I used to watch her YouTube videos when I was younger. And I like Morgan as she is cute and petite, like me.
“There’s more to cheerleading than people think. Some of my closest friends thought it was just dancing and pom-poms but it’s a lot of hard work.”
We’ve that mentality of, ‘What’s a cracked rib?’
ERIN GRANT ON HOW TOUGH SHE HAS BECOME