When Fabiana Vélez and Jennifer García stepped onto the competition floor at The World Games 2025, they didn’t just represent Ecuador in the Cheerleading – Pom – Doubles Mixed event; they embodied years of sacrifice, resilience, and belief. Their silver-medal performance marked a historic moment for their country — and a deeply personal triumph for a duo whose journey was nearly derailed more than once.
A moment they will never forget
For García, the defining moment came the second they walked into the arena and heard the roar of thousands — adults and children— greeting them with uncontained excitement. “It was an incredible moment,” she recalls. “The venue was immense, and the energy was overwhelming.”
Vélez describes the same instant with equal emotion: “I felt a wave of euphoria — like hearing a familiar echo far away from home.” And when their names and photos illuminated the central screen, she knew: “That was our moment.”
Looking back on the final, García remembers a quiet turning point backstage. “We knew we had a chance at the top three. But if we let nerves take over, everything could fall apart. So, we focused on enjoying ourselves — on showing how hard we had worked.”
Neither athlete’s path to Chengdu was easy.
Cheerleading entered García’s life more than a decade ago, and the Pom discipline just three years back. Vélez, meanwhile, started when she was selected for her country’s first-ever pom group — a spark that ignited what she calls a passion built “among discipline, stumbles, and the excitement of improvement.”
But the biggest obstacles came just weeks before the competition: limited funding, delayed confirmation of their participation, and the gruelling training schedule they imposed on themselves as a result. Both suffered injuries. Both feared they wouldn’t make it.
“For me,” says Vélez, “the hardest part was continuing even when trembling. But that ‘keep going’ is what carried us all the way to Chengdu.”
García echoes the sentiment: “Seeing our progress year after year motivates us. Even when results aren’t what we expect, we look for where we can improve.”
The World Games unique experience
To both athletes, The World Games stage felt nothing short of a dream.
“The venue cannot be compared to any other,” García says. “The whole experience felt unreal.”
Vélez describes it as “a true Olympics,” filled with massive stages and a village buzzing with athletes from entirely different worlds — yet sharing the same dream.
Despite limited time to socialize, the duo still formed connections. García recalls meeting a Spanish drone racing athlete whose sport fascinated them, and whom they ran into repeatedly around the village. “It was very pleasant to meet him,” she says.
A new chapter for Ecuadorian Cheerleading
Their silver medal sparked a wave back home.
“In Ecuador, the sport has gained more visibility,” García says. “And personally, it has given us more confidence and motivation.”
Vélez describes the homecoming as transformative: “The country welcomed us with affection and respect. It has given me a different kind of confidence — one that stays with you forever.”
Looking ahead, both are optimistic. They expect the level of competition to grow, the standards to rise, and the sport to flourish.
“We are on the right path,” Vélez says. “I hope new generations will have even more opportunities.”
For García, the journey was Perseverance — the determination to reach a competition they had dreamed of for years, and the drive that carried them to the podium.
For Fabiana, it was Rebirth — the realisation that every challenge before Chengdu was shaping a stronger, braver version of herself.