Recognizing a “real” sport: Gymnastics, cheerleading, and dance demand the same respect and talent

What counts as a “real” sport? In school gyms, on competition stages, and across social media debates, people have been questioning whether cheerleading, dance, and gymnastics should sit alongside football, basketball, or baseball on the sports roster. This debate matters now more than ever as competitive teams push for recognition, funding, and equal opportunities on athletic platforms around the world.

Traditional definitions of “sports” often emphasized direct competition, physical strength, and standardized scoring—qualities popularized through team games like soccer or baseball. But over time, sports like gymnastics, cheer, and dance evolved with their own rigorous training systems, judged competitions, and standardized scoring. For instance, gymnastics has been in the Olympics since 1896. Cheerleading gained recognition as a provisional Olympic sport in 2021, and competitive dance teams follow scoring rubrics just as detailed as figure skating or diving.

So, what makes something a sport? I believe it comes down to three key ingredients: physical skill, formal competition, and dedicated training. On all three sports, cheerleading, dance, and gymnastics qualify. Athletes in these fields perform complex routines that demand the same strength, flexibility, and precision, and compete under strict judging criteria. They face physical risk, battle performance pressure, and commit just as fiercely as athletes in more widely accepted sports.

It’s time to expand our definition of sport to reflect the diversity of athletic excellence that’s out there. Whether someone’s tumbling across a mat, executing a flawless pirouette, or scoring a cool dunk in the NBA, their effort and achievement deserve the same respect.

https://www.synergygymnastics.co.uk/is-gymnastics-a-sport/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/leighsteinberg/2018/07/28/what-defines-a-sport/

https://www.quicksteps.com.au/the-great-debate-is-dance-a-sport-or-an-art/

https://www.ue.org/risk-management/athletics/treat-cheerleading-as-a-sport/