Mega Cheer owner and coach Brielle Philp says Olympic Cheer should come to the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast’s own international cheer champion is proof that this city was born to host the sport. See why

This 12-year-old is hitting heights most could only dream of … or fear.

But Miami High student Karnon Minami said she loved the feeling of flying “10 feet through the air” as a cheerleader, which was why she was named to represent her country as a member of the elite Team Australia.

Having recently returned from the International Cheer Union World Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Florida, the little flyer soared, flipped and tumbled her way to their team’s silver medal.

“It was so amazing over there, we all did an Aussie chant at the start of the routine and you could just hear it echoing,” she said.

“I was on the youth co-ed team but some of our Team Australia divisions won gold as well, we did really well as a country.

“I compete at Mega Cheer on the Gold Coast, but for this I had to go to about eight different trials in Sydney to make Team Australia, so I was so happy when I made it and then we did well.”

Karnon Minami, 12yo cheerleading dynamo. Just returned from USA where she represented Australia and won silver. Wednesday May 29, 2024. Picture, John Gass

Cheerleading since she was just four years old, when she became “bored” with gymnastics, Karnon is one of thousands who have joined the sport, with competitive cheer growing by an incredible 10,000 per cent in the last 20 years.

Now, cheerleaders like Karnon are fighting to take their sport to the next level since it was officially ruled eligible as an Olympic sport.

While it was overlooked for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, pressure is mounting to see cheerleading debut at Brisbane in 2032, especially as Australia ranks third in the world when it comes to the sport’s popularity, after only the US and Canada.

It’s not only athletes like Karnon, but the city itself which should be cheering for its Olympic inclusion, as it could well be a win for the Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast is already the biannual host of the Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation National competition at the end of the year, with some from within the cheer scene saying the city would make the perfect Olympic location for the sport.

Mega Cheer owner and coach Brielle Philp said the city would be swarming with cheerleaders in December as the sport’s popularity continued to grow.

All Star Cheerleading Federation owner Kerry Perry surrounded by cheerleaders (Brielle Philp - right) from Mega Cheer for the opening. Picture Glenn hampson

She said Olympic inclusion would only further propel that growth, with many of her young athletes already aiming for the Games.

“The Gold Coast hosts the Nationals every second year, we share it with Melbourne, but the biggest turnout is always here,” she said.

“In 2022, we had 11,000 competitors participate – add in their families and it’s an enormous event that really contributes to the Gold Coast.

“In Melbourne last year I think they had around 8000, there was another event on at a similar time, but the Gold Coast is always the favourite location.

“It’s wonderful to see the sport grow, it’s not kids standing on the sidelines cheering for a team – they are the team. It’s a blend of gymnastics and dance and, most of all, teamwork.

“It has a really positive vibe and is good physically and mentally for the kids.”

So when it comes to the pitch for cheerleading at the 2032 Olympics the message from the cheer world is clear … bring it on. And bring it here.

Originally published as Mega Cheer owner and coach Brielle Philp says Olympic Cheer should come to the Gold Coast