Team Florida Special Olympics Gymnastics team invited to practice with Cirque Du Soleil performers

ORLANDO, Fla. — Since last November, the Cirque Du Soleil in Disney Springs has showcased nightly productions of their new “Drawn to Life” show.

With the Special Olympics USA Games being hosted in Orlando in just a week, the Cirque Du Soleil team invited some of Team Florida’s gymnasts to practice on stage with the performers.

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“It’s really nice to share the moment, and also what we do,” gymnast Ryota Asadome said.

Five of the 10 performers took some time before practice showing four of the Team Florida gymnasts parts of their routine on center stage, a place many don’t get the opportunity to stand.

“The fact that I’m one of the few that got a chance to be on there, I can tell my friends that I got to perform with some of these people,” Team Florida gymnast Adrian Eusebio said.

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Cirque Du Soleil Head Coach Beau Sydes says he was impressed with how quickly the athletes picked up their routine.

“They’re some of the best at what they do,” Sydes said of the Team Florida athletes. “To see how quickly they catch on and how quickly they learn the choreography, how easy it was for them to be on stage and find their blocking was amazing. It was great to see, really impressive.”

All of Team Florida will take Center Stage next week in the USA Games, showcasing their hard work to the world.

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The opening ceremony for the games is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. on June 5 at Exploria Stadium in Orlando.

9 Family Connection presents ‘Shine As One’ The 2022 Special Olympics USA Games will bring athletes from around the country and the Caribbean to compete in Orlando next month. (WFTV)

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