Sofie Tate, aged 18, was born with a birth defect that means she has just one leg. So after she graduated high school she thought her cheerleading career was over — until she was talent spotted by a university coach.
Terry Lange, Nebraska Weslya University Cheer Coach, was so impressed by Sofie that he invited her to try out for the college cheer squad.
“She’s very, very good. An individual with the limitation that she has, with what she was doing, it was just phenomenal to watch her perform,” she told KMTV.
Despite her disability, Sofie remains amazingly modest and upbeat. Of her disability, she says: “I can’t do a lot of things. I can’t carry my own plate in the cafeteria, I can’t text and walk, like some stuff you just can’t do and that’s totally okay.”
Sofie was adopted from a Bulgarian orphanage aged 18 months and started dance classes when she was 5, but the inspiring teen simply says, “I just kind of do what I do, I don’t try to impress people.”
Teammate Caitlyn Skuodas was amazed when Sofie arrived at tryouts on crutches, admitting “I didn’t even know it was possible.”
She added: “Honestly, most of us don’t even notice she’s not waking on two legs like everyone else, she just does her thing.”
“I can’t tell you the amount of people who tell her she’s an inspiration, because what she does is amazing.”
Sofie’s incredible skill secured her place on the cheer squad and she’s determined never to let a missing leg hold her back.
“Just walking and dancing and cheering sounds fun, but honestly if this is the worst thing that happens to me, we’ll be good because it’s not too hard at all.”
We certainly think Sofie is an inspiration and hope to see more of her amazing talent in the future. You can see Sofie in action in the video below.
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