TWO teenagers from Holmer Green won gold medals with Team England at the cheerleading world championships, astonishingly beating the USA on their home soil.
Jelena and Arianna Ljubisic attend Beaconsfield High School and are part of the Chilterns Cheetahs club based at the same school.
Their victorious team included fellow Cheetahs Laila Southgate from Chalfont St Giles and Sky Andrew from Wraysbury.
Competing against teams from around the globe, they secured their victory in the Youth All Girl Advanced category.
The young athletes have only been involved in cheerleading for less than five years, having previously been gymnastics aficionados.
The latter sport, perceived as disciplined and individualistic, lacked the frequent competitions, energetic team spirit and fun they were craving for.
Their dad Marko Ljubisic said: “While attending gymnastics lessons at their local gym, they discovered the cheerleading side filled with addictive energetic music, team-work, lively stunts and dance routines.
“As a result, Jelena and Arianna decided to make a decisive shift to cheerleading during the summers of 2019 and 2020 respectively.
“Jelena took up the role of a ‘base’ and tumbler in cheer routines while younger Arianna became a ‘flyer’, a role typically filled by the smaller or younger team members to complete stunts while being hoisted up high by their teammates.”
Before being selected for Team England, they underwent a gruelling two-day trial last October.
The process saw hundreds of cheerleaders from across the country compete for around 70 available team slots.
Their unwavering dedication went beyond regular training sessions; on top of their four times a week club training with the Chilterns Cheetahs, the cheerleading sisters also managed additional training with their Team England teammates, attending local practices, and taking further training during the Christmas, February half-term and Easter holidays.
Returning from the USA on Monday, April 29, the sisters’ excitement reportedly matched the community’s shared joy at their groundbreaking victory, affirming that their journey to becoming world champions was not only an individual achievement but one that galvanises their local community in Holmer Green.
Proud dad Marko conveyed his feelings, adding: “Caroline and I are so incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication which has ended up with them becoming not only international athletes but World Champions!
“The most pleasing aspect is they’ve completed this incredible journey together as sisters.”
This momentous achievement in the world of cheerleading signals new beginnings for the sport in the UK, with Jelena and Arianna at the forefront.
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