The Dangerous Life of Cheerleaders

Anyone still discounting cheerleading as a sport may want to think again in light of new research by the University of North Carolina. With the increase in high-risk stunts and gymnastic moves, cheerleading accounts for over 65% of all catastrophic accidents among female high school and college athletes. The rise from the previously established percentage of 55% is due to new evidence revealed by the National Cheer Safety Foundation of California.

The numbers are especially striking when one realizes that no other female sport has reached double-digit fatalities since 1982, but cheerleader deaths numbered 67. A high price to pay for a little pep.