A Golden Weekend

Some weekends are measured by medals.

Others are measured by moments.

SOAR Nationals gave us both.

Representing Le Troupe were Julie, Graceyn, Jordana, Bethany, Selena, and Ivy, six athletes who have spent the past several months training, refining routines, pushing through setbacks, and preparing for one of the biggest competitions of the season. Every athlete arrived ready to compete, but even more importantly, ready to support one another every step of the way.

From the first warm-up to the final awards ceremony, our team embodied what Le Troupe is all about. There were last-minute pep talks, teammates fixing costumes and hair, nervous hugs before stepping on stage, and cheers that could be heard across the venue after every routine. Watching our athletes celebrate one another's performances with genuine excitement was every bit as rewarding as the scores that followed.

And those scores were certainly worth celebrating. Every Le Troupe routine earned 1st Place, with the only 2nd Place finish coming behind... another Le Troupe athlete.

Here's how everyone finished:

🏅 Julie earned 1 First Place finish.

🏅 Graceyn earned 2 First Place finishes.

🏅 Jordana earned 1 First Place finish.

🏅 Bethany earned 1 First Place and 1 Second Place, with that second-place finish coming behind a fellow Le Troupe athlete.

🏅 Selena earned 1 First Place finish.

🏅 Ivy earned 1 First Place finish.

Those placements are the result of months of work that most people never see. The hours spent conditioning. The countless repetitions. The routines run over and over until every transition feels natural. The corrections that seem small but add up over time. The frustration, the breakthroughs, and the quiet confidence that comes from simply showing up and doing the work. As coaches, those are the moments we think about when an athlete stands on top of the podium.

But one of my favorite moments from the entire weekend had nothing to do with Le Troupe. It belonged to a competitor named Regina. Regina competes with another studio, and at 70 years old, she continues to perform because she genuinely loves aerial arts. After finishing one of her routines, she walked off the apparatus disappointed. She was convinced she hadn't performed well. I told her I thought it was beautiful. She immediately disagreed. She knew she had made a mistake, and in her mind, that mistake defined the routine. But from the audience, that's not what anyone remembered.

We remembered her joy.

We remembered her confidence.

We remembered the way she connected with the music and the audience.

By the end of the weekend, Regina had qualified both of her routines for Nationals and received the SOAR Award, one of the event's most meaningful honors. It was a reminder I hope every athlete carries with them. We should absolutely chase excellence. We should work tirelessly to improve our technique, strengthen our bodies, and polish every routine. That's what great athletes do. But perfection has never been the point.

The routines that stay with us aren't always the ones without mistakes. They're the ones performed with courage, authenticity, and heart. That lesson perfectly captured what made this weekend so special. Yes, our athletes earned incredible results. But more importantly, they represented Cirque Athletics with humility, professionalism, and kindness. They encouraged competitors from every studio, celebrated each other's victories, handled pressure with maturity, and reminded us that great teams are built on more than talent.

To Julie, Graceyn, Jordana, Bethany, Selena, and Ivy: thank you for representing Le Troupe so well. We are incredibly proud of your performances, but we're even prouder of the people you're becoming.

Congratulations on a truly golden weekend. Here's to carrying that momentum into the rest of the season.