Cheerleading is normally associated with American sport culture but in recent years it has experienced a significant global expansion.
There were almost no women cheerleaders until men went to war in the 40s. In the latter half of the 20th century it was feminised and sexualised, before evolving into a competitive athletic endeavour of its own as a result of second wave feminism. It has since been further democratised and radicalised – there are squads of all ages and genders, advocating for all manner of social justice causes.
No longer confined to the sidelines of other players’ games, cheerleaders now take centre stage, competing for medals in routines of two and a half minutes that consist of stunts, jumps, tumbling, dancing and cheering. The latest variation is known as all-star cheer: athletes divorced from any other sport, who cheer for one another and, ultimately, themselves.
Astana, Kazakhstan. Cheer Kazakhstan cheerleading team perform a team stunt at a food market.
Now with potential Olympic recognition the sport could gain even more popularity worldwide. In 2004, the International Cheer Union (ICU) was recognised as the worldwide governing body for cheerleading. With 119 National Cheer Federations and 10 million athletes worldwide, it shows a global demand and popularity within a formalised, scorable system – all-important criteria for Olympic consideration. The International Olympic Committee recognised cheerleading as a sport in 2021, an important distinction that may one day lead to official Olympic status. The ICU offers training and certification for coaches – of particular importance in places such as Azerbaijan, Ivory Coast and Mongolia, where cheerleading is less common.
Astana, Kazakhstan Mula Liana (14), a member of the Cheer Kazakhstan, at a food market.
Parimbekova Aizere (13), a member of the Cheer Kazakhstan ISTINA Dance & Sport Academy, performs on Independence Square.
Ust-Kamenogorsk ( Oskemen ), Kazakhstan. Cheerleaders from the Fox team photographed in an industrial area of Ust-Kamenogorsky. Fox club was formed in 2021. In 2022 they won the national cup.
For Sinibaldi, this meant he could travel the world in pursuit of new cheer communities. “I’m very interested in how photography can be used as a tool to talk about communities and people,” he says, “so the sport in this case is an excuse for me to talk about how young people are helping each other to grow.”
Christian travelled to Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Viet Nam and Greece to document the skills, ability, sweat and passions of the local teams but also to highlight the special bond within each team - a bond that creates a support network resembling to a family.
This projects intends to challenge the outdates stereotypes associated with cheerleading and show this international pursuit in all its colour and joyfulness.
Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria Aluko Eniola (21), a member of cheerleading team Lagos Cheer Nigeria (LCN). "I've been a cheerleader for six years now and this year will make it the seventh. I love everything about cheerleading."
Lagos, Nigeria Lagos Cheer Nigeria (LCN) member Hassana who is wearing an old uniform from the London team Unity Black, which they were given during a summer camp organised in collaboration with a London cheerleadering coach.
Lagos, Nigeria Members of cheerleading team Lagos Cheer Nigeria (LCN) perform stunts on the streets of Yaba.
Lagos, Nigeria Members of cheerleading team Lagos Cheer Nigeria (LCN) perform a stunt on a street in Yaba.
Lagos, Nigeria Pelumi (19), a member of cheerleading team Lagos Cheer Nigeria (LCN), does the splits on a street in Yaba. She started in the junior team before moving into the senior team and has been a cheerleader for eight years.
Lagos, Nigeria Members of cheerleading team Lagos Cheer Nigeria (LCN), training at the Stadium of Lagos.
Lagos, Nigeria Obioma Precious (16), a member of cheerleading team Lagos Cheer Nigeria (LCN), training at the Stadium of Lagos. "I have been in cheerleading for about two years and I simply love it because it is fun!"
London, United Kingdom. Unity Allstars Black Cheerleadering team perform a stunt on Regent Street. Flyer, Lauren Gray (22, right) started cheer in 2016 after being a gymnast for eight years. "I competed for Team England in 2019, placing fifth in the world! In 2022 I joined Unity Allstars, as a 22-metre flyer, and won silver at the world championships. I am aiming for another win this year."
Soho, London, United Kingdom. A member of Unity Allstars Black Cheerleaders.
Soho, London, United Kingdom. Unity Allstars Black Cheerleadering team perform a stunt in Soho
London, United Kingdom. Unity Allstars Black Cheerleaders in their gym during a training session. The team train at least once or twice a week for at least three hours at a time.
London, United Kingdom. Unity Allstars Black Cheerleaders in their gym during a training session. The team train at least once or twice a week for at least three hours at a time.
Vouliagmeni, Athens, Greece. Members of the Amazons senior Hip Hop and Cheer Pom team practicing their routines beside the sea. The 28 team members are aged between 16 and 28 and their best achievement in competition was becoming National and European Champions 2023.
Vouliagmeni, Athens, Greece. A member of the Amazons senior Hip Hop and Cheer Pom team beside the sea.
Athens, Greece. The Amazons youth cheerleading team perform a stunt at the Church of Agios Nikolaos.Eleftheria Ntani (13), the 'flyer' says: ^I have been doing cheerleading for the last three years. Cheerleading is an idea! I love everything about it. The dance, the music, the feelings. Every practice is full of challenges but as a team we pass through them.
Greece. A cheerleader with the Amazons team on Varzika beach.
Athens, Greece. Eva Petrosian (17) a cheerleader with the Amazons team on Varzika beach. "I am 17 years old. I have been doing cheerleading since I was six years old, so I have been a cheerleader for 11 years . When I first joined the cheerleading team, the director Evangelia Kritikou asked me: 'Why did you come to this place?' and I answered with great courage and confidence that 'I am here for the Olympic Games'. "
Athens, Greece. Eleftheria Xynou and members of the Amazons senior Hip Hop and Cheer Pom team practicing their routines. The 28 team members are aged between 16 and 28 and their best achievement in competition was becoming National and European Champions 2023. Xynou says: "I have been a cheerleader for over 13 years now and I am still going strong. I love the energy of the sport, the teamwork, the discipline, and the joy it brings me."
Vouliagmeni, Athens, Greece. Members of the Amazons senior Hip Hop and Cheer Pom team practicing their routines beside the sea.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Coaches Hung and Chan, husband and wife and founders of the Saigon Beast. Cheerleading is the passion and special bond. They create everything, from the costumes to the stunts and routines and they dedicate all their spare time to the Team. Jane works is estate and Hung is trying to move to a full time career as a coach, but he is still working part time. Hung: My parents don’t approve of my choices and often we had hard time to be accepted about our passion and dedication. But Cheers make us happy and it would our dream to partecipate to an Olympic. Maybe our parents twill then approve of our choices.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Nguyen Thanh Trung (L, 23) and Nguyen Danh Nam, university students and members of the Saigon Beast cheerleading in China Town. Trung: "I've have been doing cheerleading for eight years, sometimes I train seven days a week. I think the very first thing that attracted me was the personal growth associated with the sport. 'Flyers' (the people at the top of the pyramids) cannot develop without the 'base' and neither the 'bases' without 'flyers'. This bond is special as the sense of community we have, where we help each other. I feel like I have another family."
Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. Akinde Toluwalope Cecilia, a member of the Lagos Cheer Nigeria (LCN) cheerleading team jumps into the air on a street in Yaba. Akinde has been a cheerleader for five years. "The best thing for me is the team spirit and cooperation between every member of the team, despite being from different backgrounds and walks of life."
Astana, Kazakhstan.