The International Cheer Union has elected Karl Olson as its new President, with the announcement arriving as the ICU World Cheerleading Championships open this week. The leadership transition comes just weeks after the passing of founder Jeff Webb. Olson steps into the role after serving as Secretary General since the ICU’s early years. With national teams competing now through Friday, the organization is operating at full capacity, managing one of its most visible annual events while adjusting to new leadership.
In the ICU’s announcement, Olson said he is honored to continue Webb’s work and advance the organization’s mission of global recognition for cheerleading. Founded in 2004, the ICU has grown to include more than 120 member federations, with 121 currently listed. That growth is reflected on the floor this week, where teams represent the expansion of the sport far beyond its U.S. origins. For many programs, this event is the endpoint of national selection systems and the highest level of international competition available.
The timing also aligns with another major event on the cheer calendar. The Cheerleading Worlds begins Friday and runs through Monday, creating an overlap that places both international federation teams and all star programs in the spotlight at the same time. While the two events serve different structures within the sport, together they represent the scale and diversity of modern cheerleading.
One of the ICU’s defining milestones came in 2021, when the International Olympic Committee granted it full recognition. That decision elevated the stakes for events like this week’s championship, reinforcing their role in presenting cheerleading within the global sports system.
Olson’s presidency begins in the middle of that momentum. Webb’s influence remains embedded in the framework of the ICU. His role in building the organization is visible in the scale of this week’s event and the global participation it draws.
The transition comes at a moment when the cheerleading community is remembering Webb, with competition underway and the global cheer community watching closely. How the ICU carries this moment forward will shape not just its leadership, but the next phase of the sport’s international growth.
