GLOBAL NEW QUEEN CONFIRMED: Georgia Bulldogs Cheerleading Squad Crowned World’s No. 1 at 2025 International Cheer and Dance Championship
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — July 20, 2025 — In a moment that redefined spirit, strength, and showmanship on the global stage, the University of Georgia Bulldogs Cheerleading Squad has been officially crowned the No. 1 Cheer Team in the World by ESPN following their spellbinding performance at the 2025 International Cheer and Dance Championship held in Barcelona, Spain.
Dubbed “The Soul of the Sideline,” the Bulldogs didn’t just take home gold — they shattered expectations, redefined artistry, and ignited a cultural wave that is now rippling across continents. Their near-flawless performance earned a record-breaking score of 99.2, surpassing perennial powerhouses from Japan, Canada, and Brazil, and sealing their place in cheerleading history.
Their routine? A 7-minute, gravity-defying, emotion-drenched spectacle of elite tumbling, aerial pyramids, and synchronized athleticism, set to a roaring remix of southern hip-hop, gospel vocals, and orchestral strings — a soundscape as bold and proud as their Georgia roots.
> “They didn’t just cheer — they conquered,” said ESPN anchor Maya Torres. “Every move had purpose, every stunt told a story. It was more than a performance — it was a proclamation.”
Captain Layla Monroe, a senior kinesiology major from Savannah, led the squad through an electrifying crescendo of stunts and choreography that earned three separate standing ovations — a rarity in international cheer competitions. Her final basket toss soared nearly 20 feet into the air before sticking a one-handed landing to a deafening roar.
> “This was for Georgia, for our families, and for every little girl who dreams big,” Monroe said, tears in her eyes as gold confetti rained around her. “We didn’t come to compete. We came to create a legacy.”
That legacy was shaped over 11 months of relentless training, mental conditioning, and cross-discipline choreography sessions, guided by Head Coach Marissa Blake, now regarded as one of the most innovative minds in cheer athletics. A former Olympic gymnast turned coaching visionary, Blake fused classical ballet, martial arts, and stunt cycling elements into the team’s final routine — a first in competition history.
> “This team worked not just for perfection, but for meaning,” said Blake. “They are athletes, yes — but also storytellers, leaders, and now, world champions.”
The global cheerleading community has responded with admiration and awe. The squad’s winning routine has already amassed over 47 million views across platforms, and global outlets from the BBC to Sports Illustrated are calling them the “Queens of the Mat.”
From Sanford Stadium to Spain, from pep rallies to the pinnacle of the global cheer world — the Georgia Bulldogs Cheerleading Squad has soared far beyond the sidelines. They’ve proven that cheerleading is not an accessory to the game — it is the game, and it belongs on the world stage.
As the red and black flag flies high above Athens tonight, one thing is certain: the Bulldogs didn’t just win. They made history.
Go Dawgs. Forever Queens.
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