A group of young acrobatic gymnasts from Cheltenham will compete against international teams for the first time.
The Cheltenham Academy of Acrobatic Gymnastics (CAAG) is set to take part in the 2026 Geneva International Acro Cup in Switzerland, which kicks off on Thursday.
The competition squad has been training since the start of the year, and the club has raised nearly £5,000 to cover travel expenses.
Coach Liv Mighten said: “They’ve trained incredibly hard, with extra one-on-one sessions. We can’t wait to go.”
Acrobatic gymnastics emphasizes teamwork, lifts, and formations, typically performed in groups of two to four. Teams consist of “bases,” who provide support, and “tops,” who are smaller gymnasts executing aerial moves.
CAAG will face teams from Switzerland, Italy, France, and Brazil.
The squad includes athletes aged from seven to nearly 17.
Freya, 13, said: “It’s really cool because we’ve never done this before. It’s going to be quick, intense, but a lot of fun.”
Alina, 10, added: “When I joined, I couldn’t even do a cartwheel. Now I can do front handsprings. I’m nervous but excited.”
Routines will be judged on difficulty, execution, and artistry.
Mighten commented: “They love it, and they perform really well.”
Members of CAAG’s competition squad range in age from seven to almost 17 [CAAG]