Sweden is aiming for more medals in the cheerleading world CHAMPIONSHIPS

the bronze medal for the women's team Team Sweden Allgirl was something the group were aiming for for a longer time.

" We had really longed to take the medal. It was a great joy but also relief that it finally went the way after we have fought so very hard for it, " says Johanna Karlsson.

Team Sweden Allgirls trainer: Sofie Lewerentz, Yasemin Beyazit and Johanna Karlsson. Photo: Swedish Cheerleadingförbundet.

is it time for the world CUP again and in the years to participate in approximately 70 nations. Sweden will send four teams and the national team has 26 participants trained by Johanna Karlsson and her tränarkollegor Yasemin Beyazit and Sofie Lewerentz. Landslagstruppen dream of course if the medal again.

" We know that we have upped the quality from last year but at the same time, the competition becomes tougher. The united states and Finland, which is located at the top is immensely strong, we dare still to dream high but the most important thing for us is that we put our program so we'll see how far it takes us, " says Johanna Karlsson.

A number begins with a rhyme in 30 seconds, followed by a 2.5 minutes long programmes. In each of the teams involved 24 people, and the judges assessing the technical difficulty and execution and choreography. Elements, including stunts, pyramids, movements, flips, jumps and chants included.

in recent years, but it has not always been. Johanna Karlsson started with cheerleading 2008.

" Then it was not so large, and partly didn't know so many to the sport were, first, not cheerleading has come so far if you compare with the international level. Now, you notice that the more familiar people are with the sport or actual encountered on the cheerleading. When we compete internationally at the club world CUP and the national team the world CUP place, we are still at the top of the elite, the development has really gone very much forward, and it is great fun.

Still, the majority are girls, but we are constantly working to get guys to start with cheerleading. We look internationally, it is very equally distributed between girls and guys I would say but in Sweden we have a way to go.

" We're trying to get in guys already in young ages, since it is difficult to succeed in such an tjejdominerande sports. But it gets better and better and in our mixed teams, which also go on the world CUP, it is the guys with. We show that it is open to everyone, simply, " she says.

for the Swedish cheerleadingförbundet (SCF) and she says that the sport is growing rapidly. The union has today 10.426 licensed cheerleaders.

" Cheerleading is growing in the world and is practiced in over one hundred countries. In Sweden, there are very many who are interested in and we recruit most girls in their teens. We as unions can not take care of all this growth because there is such great interest.

Katarina Eriksson, president of Swedish cheerleadingförbundet. Photo: the International Cheer Union

Katarina Eriksson tells us about Sweden's development internationally in recent years, and competition.

" We have a pretty long history of good results at international level. The united states has enormous resources and a lot of money, Finland, its support from their corresponding covenants, but will also receive assistance through state resources. With our scarce resources and that we can handle ourselves, we have come incredibly far, I am extremely proud of. We are a nation to be reckoned with and know that we are good at cheerleading.

the women's team thus has fine chances to repeat his performance from last year, with a new medal. Katarina Eriksson also believe that the junior league can take a pallplacering.