I have photographed sports for 12 years in the area.

The two things I hear and see are racecar drivers and cheerleaders aren't athletes.

Well here is my take on cheerleaders — racecar drivers I will save for another column. 

I am sure I am not the only one who has heard someone say, “Cheerleaders are not athletes.”

It’s a heartache to cheerleaders that so many people think that what they do isn't considered athletic.

I recently covered my first cheerleading competition and was amazed by the routines each team performed as a group and in sync.

They ranged in age from maybe 5 years old to 19 years old.

They have had to have hours of training and practice. The expressions on their face showed the amount of fun as any football or basketball player shows that just scored. Cheerleaders stereotyped as they just smile and shout cheers at the fans, that's only part of boosting spirits.

Cheerleaders dance, tumble, jump, toss, fly, throw, and flip. But high school cheerleading comes under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association in two areas, eligibility and safety. Cheerleaders must have their eligibility certified in the same manner as other interscholastic athletes.

Also the NCHSAA has an invitational cheerleading competition every year.

An athlete, according to the dictionary, is “a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.” 

So it is safe to say then that to be an athlete you have to be physically fit and you have to train and practice specific skill sets required by the game, exercise, or sport in which you’re participating.

I have seen many cheerleaders over the years and it appears to me that they, constantly practice improving their own skills and team routines, trained by coaches and learn new skills, stunts, and routines regularly, building their strength and stamina, bruise, break bones and sweat.

So in my opinion what cheerleaders do is no different than a football player, golfer, swimmer, or basketball player.

Just replace “routine” with “play,” and “stunt” with “move” and you have got the same athletic athlete.

The only difference is cheerleaders can fly in the air, catch people instead of balls, and wear a uniform too.

So the next sporting event you go to and see cheerleaders wearing makeup, glitter, hair bows and skirts, just watch and wonder if they were not trained and athletic could they be doing what they are doing.  

So do you think they should be considered athletes also?