MANILA – Gymnast Althea Descutido is putting her rhythmic gymnastics career behind for now after tapped to join the Far Eastern University (FEU) Cheering Squad.
According to the 19-year-old Bacolodnon, the learning she earned in years of being a gymnast is vital in her new venture as she hopes to be lined up for the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Cheerdance Competition.
“Being part of the FEU Cheering Squad is an honor and a great opportunity for me. This opportunity allows me to continue to reach new heights and discover new skills,” Descutido told Panay News on Tuesday.
“As a gymnast, there are advantages as some of the skills I developed and gathered from years of training will be useful and applicable in this new step of my journey as a cheerleader,” she added.
Descutido admitted she did not envision herself becoming part of any cheerdance team, but an opening in the FEU Cheering Squad pushed her to try.
“I have a co-gymnast who is also from Negros Occidental, and he asked me if I wanted to join the FEU Cheering Squad since they were recruiting. So I gave it a try, and luckily I passed,” she shared.
Descutido represented Western Visayas in the Palarong Pambansa for seven straight years, winning gold in 2019, silver in 2018, and bronze in 2015. She was a gold and bronze medal awardee in the Philippine National Games in 2018 and has competed in ASEAN School Games, where she took home a bronze medal.
While being a cheerleader is a temporary pause to her goal of representing the country as a gymnast, Descutido hopes to go back to her first love when her stint in FEU is over.
“My dream is to be part of the national gymnastics team. When I’m done with college, and the opportunity to be part of the national team will come my way, I will grab it,” said Descutido, a gymnast and coach for the Bacolod City-based MK Gymnastics.
“But, for now, I will work hard and show to FEU that the opportunity they gave me will not be wasted,” she added./PN
