A team of midlife cheerleaders in Ukraine refuses to let war defeat them

"We train no matter what. When it's dark, and we're walking through the street while everything is burning. When there's no light. I tell my girls: 'We are the light.' This statement from Sunrise's captain demonstrates the squad's commitment to maintaining their practice and morale despite the dangerous wartime conditions surrounding them in Kharkiv."

"We used to be fearful of the sunrise. The war began at dawn. We were often bombed at dawn. But I did not want us to be afraid. I wanted us to find a way to rejoice. Nesterenko explains the symbolic significance of choosing Sunrise as the squad's name, transforming a traumatic association into a source of hope and resilience."

"As of today, though, we are back to prewar numbers. That's because we have a lot of new teams. The Cheerleading and Cheer Sport Federation president notes that despite many squads fleeing after the 2022 invasion, cheerleading participation has recovered through the formation of new teams, including several composed of women over 50."

In Kharkiv, Ukraine, a cheerleading squad called Sunrise composed of women in their 50s and 60s practices competitive cheerleading as a way to manage extreme stress and anxiety during Russia's ongoing war. The squad's captain, Iryna Nesterenko, chose the name Sunrise to transform a symbol of fear—dawn was when bombings often occurred—into a symbol of hope and light. Cheerleading has surged in popularity across Ukraine since the 2022 invasion, with the sport returning to prewar participation numbers through new teams. According to the Cheerleading and Cheer Sport Federation of Ukraine, this growth reflects Ukrainians' need for emotional relief from wartime trauma. Mental health surveys show only 4% of Ukrainians report good mental health, highlighting the widespread psychological toll of the conflict.

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