The Madeline Stuart Dance Company (MSDC) has partnered with the Australian Cheer Union (ACU) to field Australia’s first ever teams made up entirely of athletes with disabilities to compete in the Special Olympic Independent Hip Hop and Special Abilities Hip Hop categories at the ICU World Championships, held from 22-24 April 2026 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, USA.
The historic debut marks a watershed moment for inclusive sport and performing arts in Australia. Working alongside the ACU, MSDC is actively recruiting and preparing athletes nationally, bringing these fully inclusive disability divisions to life for Australia on the international stage for the first time and giving performers of all abilities the opportunity to compete at the highest level.
“The Australian Cheer Union is proud to be entering Australian teams in the Special Abilities and Special Olympics divisions for the first time this year, with the active support and leadership of the Madeline Stuart Dance Company,” said Danelle Cooney, Team Australia Director, ACU. “It is important to give the fierce competitors from our disabled cheer and dance community the opportunity to compete at the highest level, and we cannot wait to see them shine on the world stage.”
Leading the charge is MSDC founder Madeline Stuart, the world’s first professional supermodel with Down syndrome and one of Australia’s most recognised disability advocates. A decade after making global headlines on the fashion runway, Madeline continues to transform visibility into lasting impact, and leading Australia’s first fully inclusive disability teams to the ICU World Championships is the most significant milestone of that journey yet.
The debut also coincides with MSDC’s 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade of creative excellence and leadership in inclusive arts. Founded on the belief that everyone deserves visibility and opportunity, MSDC supports performers of all abilities to thrive both on stage and beyond, setting a national benchmark for what meaningful inclusion in the arts actually looks like.
The ICU World Championships brings together thousands of athletes from nearly 30 countries and will be broadcast internationally on the official Olympic sports channel, with elite divisions including mainstream, unified, all-abilities, Special Olympic Independent Hip Hop and Special Abilities Hip Hop.
“Everyone deserves to live their dream, if society will champion it.” Madeline Stuart.
About the Madeline Stuart Dance Company The Madeline Stuart Dance Company is one of Australia’s pioneering fully inclusive national dance, drama and drumming companies, providing performers of all abilities with access to high-quality training, creative expression and performance opportunities. For the past 10 years, MSDC has built pathways that support confidence, wellbeing and professional development, and is widely recognised for its leadership in inclusive arts practice.
About the Australian Cheer Union The Australian Cheer Union is the national governing body for cheerleading and cheer sport in Australia, responsible for developing and supporting athletes across all divisions including adaptive and inclusive categories.
About Madeline Stuart Madeline Stuart is an internationally recognised model, performer and advocate who rose to global prominence as the world’s first professional supermodel with Down syndrome. Over the past decade, she has worked across fashion, media and the arts to challenge stereotypes and expand visibility for people with disabilities, using her platform to advocate for inclusion, representation and opportunity in Australia and internationally.
About the ICU World Championships The ICU World Championships is a world-class, Olympic-sanctioned event held from 22-24 April 2026 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, USA. The competition brings together thousands of athletes from nearly 30 countries and will be broadcast internationally on the official Olympic sports channel.