A Morecambe cheerleading group have clinched a double gold medal at a prestigious international competition in Germany.
Stormers Elite Cheerleading Club returned home as champions in two categories from the German All Level Championships.
Stormers Elite, based in Morecambe and welcoming around 200 athletes through our gym doors each week, travelled to Germany with 40 athletes and three coaches – Natalie Hughes, Lauren Potter and Megan Potter – along with around 40 dedicated parents and supporters.
Originally established in 2008 as Bay Stormers, the club rebranded to Stormers Elite in 2022 and has continued to grow from strength to strength. They offer both recreational and competitive cheerleading for all ages and abilities, creating opportunities for athletes to develop not only as performers, but as confident and resilient young people.
The Open Junior Level 2 team, “Cruise Control”, featuring athletes aged 11–18, faced one of the largest divisions of the weekend with 19 teams from across Europe. Despite the pressure, the team delivered a flawless “Hit Zero” routine – meaning no deductions – with confidence and composure.
The team were crowned Gold Champions, taking home gold medals, a trophy and banner in an unforgettable moment filled with tears, screams and celebration.
Meanwhile, the International Open Level 3 team, “First Class” (ages 15–29), had an especially challenging build-up to the competition, battling injuries, health issues and last-minute changes – including a lost passport the night before competition.
The team reworked routines, welcomed athletes stepping into new roles, and even saw Coach Lauren Potter come out of cheer retirement to ensure the team could compete. Special recognition goes to Jessica Sloane and Olivia Wilkinson for stepping in, and to Niamh Sanderson, who courageously learned new elements on the day of competition to allow the team to take the floor.
Their resilience paid off with another incredible Hit Zero performance. Heading into awards, emotions were high, the team ran out smiling, knowing the division was extremely strong. When third place was announced and it wasn’t them, their faces dropped in disbelief - they had made the top two.
The nerves intensified as they stood holding hands. When second place was read out and it still wasn’t them, the realisation hit: they were Gold Champions, also earning a bid to the European Summit 2027.
Stormers Elite has previously travelled internationally to compete in Dublin, Barcelona and Florida, including competing at one of the largest cheerleading events in the world, The Summit Championships, where one of our teams brought home a silver medal last season.
Club Executive and Coach Natalie Hughes, who still competes as an athlete herself, said: “There is just something about this sport that you can’t step away from – the teamwork, the bonds, the strength you gain.
‘’But it’s so much more than medals. Cheerleading teaches resilience, commitment, leadership, accountability, trust and confidence.
‘’We’ve had parents tell us they’ve never seen their child shine the way they do on that cheer floor. Those moments make everything worth it.”
All athletes have now returned home with gold medals and lifelong memories – and after a very quick rest, they are already preparing for their next two-day competition in Blackpool this weekend.
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