LEAH CHEER CHARACTER JERRY

BEING a cheerleader means you’ve got to be physically fit – and pretty tough.

IT worker Leah Keiro is a member of Team Love Cheer and was back in training just a few weeks after having a cast removed after breaking an arm.

“I think you’ve got to be tough,” the 21-year-old from Inverness said.

“Your team-mates are relying on you and if one person is off, it affects everything. “I’m a base, so I put them up in the air,” she added. “I broke my arm when I crashed my car but it definitely took a lot of strain when I got back into it. I still get physio for my arm.

“I was in a cast for six to eight weeks and I support it now when I’m training. But I was back a few weeks later trying to build up my strength.”

Leah’s friends are impressed when they see what cheerleading involves.

She said: “There’s definitely the sideline stigma around it. It probably comes from the American movies where they have cheerleaders and pom-poms doing sideline dances – it’s definitely a lot more than that.”

Leah took up cheerleading around the age of eight as a young dance fan.

She said: “I went to a class one day and I was hooked. We train for at least one-and-ahalf hours every week and in competition season that can definitely go up.

“I just love being part of a team. I love the competitive side of it, it brings a buzz when you’re on the floor and definitely keeps you fit as well. I don’t see myself not doing it any more.

“A lot of people think it’s this sport where you cheer on the boys on the football field – but it’s a league of its own when you’re training so hard.

“Then you show people what you do – throwing girls in the air and tumbles and the dance and gymnastics side of things.”

Leah is a big fan of Cheer. She said: “I watched it about six times over, it’s so good. It really shows people the true side of it, how intense it is and how much goes into a two minute 30 routine.

“I definitely see myself as the Jerry of our team as I love encouraging other people.

“Jerry is so good at his mat talk. I try to be as much like him as I can.”