LAST Sunday our Olympics began in London - that’s what the World Championships are for Irish dancers.
It's the one competition that everyone strives to compete in with dancers travelling from all over the globe just to experience three or four minutes on stage.
Into those few minutes of magic goes a phenomenal amount of preparation.
The training all these young dancers go through consists of two or three hours every single day. It demands levels of fitness that would equal, if not better, that of a professional athlete.
As a Champion dancer, there are so many sacrifices that you have to make to become the best in the world. Not only did I make them myself, but my family also made them for me.
Many years passed where we had no summer holidays, with my mum and dad instead spending their money and time driving me up and down the country, to England, Scotland, and America for competitions.
Every year, from about February, to the start of the Worlds (normally around Easter) it is dancing, dancing, dancing!
I am a six-time World Champion and, for me, becoming a World Champion the first time wasn’t the most stressful – that came with holding on to the title a further five times. It is one thing getting to the top, but retaining your title is another level altogether. There were nights where there were tears and arguments, but it's all worth it in the end if the result goes your way.
I won my first world title on my 13th birthday. My last title came in Boston last Easter, where I won the age group 19-21, while I was previously victorious at Under 13, 15, 17, 18 and 19 level.
Depending on the year, you could be judged by up to 15 judges. There are usually five for each round and there are three rounds in total.
Obviously, the standard is incredibly high. There are roughly about 50 to 60 boys in each age group, and there could be up to 200 girls in a single age group. Boys and girls are split to separate competitions, and everyone there is fighting for the top spot. You want to take home the Gold Medal and the amazing Globe Trophy the Champion receives.
So how do you become a top dancer? What does it take to become a Champion?
Firstly, it takes an enormous amount of dedication. You have to be prepared to put in the endless hours of dancing and perfecting different things. Listening to your teacher is the main thing. Remember they are the qualified ones. They'll always advise you in the right direction.
I danced in class, Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and competed on Sundays. On Tuesday I would practice by myself and I took Wednesday off.
Six or seven days of dancing gave me the best possible chance at winning this major title. Other dancers should be doing about the same if they want to compete at a high level in competition and strive for the top spot.
For me, retaining the title was the biggest relief every year as you can never judge what way things will go. I know the amount of preparation you do is extremely important, but a lot of it depends on the day too. Nowadays it's all mental fitness as well as being ridiculously physically fit.
I know it seems like there are so any aspects that have to be right to make it to World Champion, but to put it simply - there are. Years ago, the World Championships were not as competitive as they are now.
In London this week you will see kids literally pushing themselves to the limit every day. In the build-up they will have visited mind coaches as they strive to be positive all the time. The preparation these days involves a lot more than just dancing.
I went through all this too, and it did benefit me in the end. The sessions with my mind coach, Sean Connolly in Belfast, certainly helped bring out the best in me. I felt a lot more mentally stable and didn't have as many doubts as I previously did.
A lot of people might think sessions with mind coaches and such supreme fitness levels are made in to an unnecessarily big deal for 'just dancing', but I guarantee you it's a lot more than 'just dancing'. You will see that at these Championships.
The level of passion behind all these kids is remarkable and every child loves it just as much as the next. I now have friends all over the world because of Irish dancing. Not a lot of people can say that at all, and I really count myself so lucky, for everything.
I thank my parents for pushing me to be the best, yet always keeping me level headed, and making sure I'm always top notch dancing wise before a competition. My friends have also been so supportive and, of course, my dancing teachers for dedicating so much time to make me the dancer I am today.
For anyone who isn't in the world of dancing but is thinking about going to watch these Championships in London, I would advise you to go. You'll get a little taster for this mad world that is the 'dancing world' and you'll be blown away by the skills of all of these dancers, from the age of 10 right up the senior age group.
This is the first year I won't be competing at these Championships, as I am now on tour with Riverdance...and I'm so lucky for having this opportunity. So for those in London over that brilliant mad week, stay focussed, give it your best and enjoy the experience. Best of luck!
John Lonergan is a six-time World Champion from Ballypheane in Cork City. He was taught at the Eleanor O’ Brien School of Irish Dancing, the Sheila Hayes School, and finally the Kiely-Walsh Academy. He is now a member of Riverdance.
