A series of videos have emerged of cheerleaders being forced to do the splits during a training session.

The footage showed eight students in Denver, Colorado's East High School screaming in pain while being forced into the position by their coaches. They were sent anonymously to KUSA-TV station. In the videos, which the station broadcasted yesterday, one of the students can be heard shouting "No no no, I  can't. Please stop, please stop," as she is held down by coaches during cheerleading practice. The girl's legs are pushed apart until she is doing the splits. KUSA-TV was sent seven other similar videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=121&v=LEhUTQAOuV4 13-year-old Ally Wakefield - the student who features heavily in the footage broadcast by KUSA-TV - said that she "didn't expect to be able to do elevated splits and be forced into it." She and the other girls told the station that the coaches were "pushing down" on their backs and thighs to try and keep the cheerleaders' posture correct. Ally said that it was "tearing my ligament and my muscle at the same time." Another girl said that she "couldn't breathe because she was crying so hard." Superintendent of Denver Public Schools Tom Boasberg called the footage "extremely distressing." In a statement, he said:

"We absolutely prohibit any practices that place our students' physical and mental health in jeopardy. We do not and will not allow any situation in which a student is forced to perform an activity or exercise beyond the point at which they express their desire to stop."

Director of the Cheerleading Coaches and Administration Association Jim Lord told KUSA-TV that the practice of forcing cheerleaders into the splits is "outdated." He also said that coaches now had to practice safe stretching. The school's coach, his assistant, the principal, and the deputy principal have been placed on leave following an investigation by Colorado police.