Five school employees in Denver, Colo, are on leave over a disturbing video that shows a coach forcing a high school cheerleader into a split as the girl screams in agony.
The video recorded by fellow cheerleaders has gone viral online.
Britnee Senner, cheer director for All 4 Gymnastics in Frisco, says no one should be pushed that far.
Before becoming cheer director, Senner cheered in college and was a two-time gold medalist for the U.S. national team.
"I've been stretched every sort of way, but never ever have I been stretched like that," Senner said.
The video shows the recently hired coach at a Denver high school pushing down on the shoulders of a freshmen while the girl's arms and legs are held down.
Denver police are investigating.
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"There would be no reason at all to have your splits stretched in that sense ever, ever, ever," Senner said.
A split is already painful to learn. But having someone push you down, she says, would be brutal.
Senner also says learning to do a split can take months or even years.
