Andrea Larkins is the definition of dedication, discipline and perseverance. She had checked off just about every accomplishment a cheerleader hopes to achieve in their career, but she had one goal that kept alluding her - to compete with the USA National Team. She tried out, and was cut, three times. But for Andrea, fourth time's a charm.

This April, Andrea not only fulfilled her dream of competing on the USA National Team, but also came home a gold-medalist. Our cameras followed her and the 2016 All Girl Team to document the training, tribulation and triumphs of competing at the highest level of cheerleading. Get to know a little bit about Andrea, and follow her journey in the upcoming series, Going for Gold: US National Cheer Team exclusively on Varsity.tv. Watch the full trailer below.

CHEER BACKGROUND:

ALL STAR

Champion Cheer Outlaws (Currently CheerForce San Diego) 2001-2005 El Cajon, CA

• UCA National Champion 2003
  
• USA National Champion 2002, 2003, 2005

SCHOOL

Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, Hawaii

• Rookie of the Year 2005
  
• Cheer captain 2010
  
• NCA National Champion 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

USA NATIONAL TEAM

​USA All Girl 2016, gold-medalist

The first three times, I don't think I was mentally prepared to make it...But this last tryout was different, I felt ready.

What motivates you?
I'm a concrete goal setter. Every goal that I have, I write it down, I tell people.

What does it take to cheer at an elite level?
Discipline. You can't only be thinking about it during practice. You have to be willing to wake up early, work out and be aware of the things you're eating and fueling your body properly. 

You had tried out three times prior to making the USA National Team. Did that make your fourth tryout easier or more difficult? 
It was easier because I had been in that tryout situation before, but it was definitely also harder because I had never been cut from a team before until I tried out for Team USA and I was cut three times in a row. It was really difficult, but it didn't effect my tryout. The first three times, I don't think I was mentally prepared to make it. Being on US National Team means a lot of hard work and training. But this last tryout was different, I felt ready.

How did it feel to see your name on the list finally?
My friend saw it first and she turned around and said "You made it!". It was really overwhelming, I just started crying and I text everyone to tell them I made it. I was actually flying that day, so I was at the airport and every time someone called me I would break down in tears again, it was super embarrassing.

What was it like to cheer on the USA National Team?
It's not easy and it's not glamourous. It's mentally and physically challenging but it was absolutely the highlight of my cheerleading career.  I'm on UCA Staff with the girls who were in my stunt group, so we work together during the summer. But it was cool to see them in a different type of atmosphere. We typically do skills we're really comfortable with, so we hadn't really seen each other in this situation. It was like "wow, this is the best team I've ever been on.

Rapid-Fire Questions

Instagram: alarkins87
Favorite TV show: Property Brothers
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite athlete: Lolo Jones
Hobbies: I love cooking and crafting! I watch a lot of Food Network and try to learn how to create my own recipes.

If you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would love to spend a week in any eastern European country! A lot of my friends have traveled there, and say it's beautiful.

What's playing in your headphones/ear buds right now?
I listen to a lot of reggae and Hawaiian music. It reminds me of college and when I used to live in Hawaii!

If you were at a party and someone needed you to entertain the crowd, would you be more likely to tell a joke, sing a song, play an instrument or do something else?
I don't like being the center of attention! I'd probably divert attention elsewhere, or tell a joke if I had to.

Do you have a philosophy or favorite quote you live by?
"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."

Any superstitions or rituals you have around competing?
I don't have any! I am not a superstitious person at all. My motto when competing is "mind over matter," so I just know that if I believe in myself, I can do anything.

Describe yourself in one word, on the mat and off:
On the mat: Dependable
Off the mat: Loyal