Team Phoenix has been super busy over the past 18 months as we continue to grow the sport and improve the standard of Artistic in the country. It is amazing to think that just 2 1/2 years ago there was nothing in the CGA district. Now we have multiple clubs, coaches and SA champions!
Coaches Courses:
Training coaches is the first step to growing the sport and we have been pleased to have trained another dozen coaches at the Bronze level - bringing to 28 the number of coaches trained over the past 2 and half years. Coaches have be trained from multiple districts across South Africa. Additionally we trained 6 coaches to the Gold level this year and look forward to all the new artistic swimmers from their clubs.
Team Phoenix - works closely with coaches, sharing knowledge and empowering coaches and athletes to grow.
Judges Courses:
We also started Judges training courses this year. As there are have been no judges courses run in SA over the past 3 years, Team Phoenix has taken the lead to train a new generation of judges. We are hugely thankful to Kari McKnight from Canadian Artistic who ran a number of online courses during the year for our beginner judges. The courses were very well received and 8 new judges will be putting their skills to use during the season at the number of competitions we will be running.
Clinics: March 24
Team Phoenix Olympic and World Championship athletes Laura Strugnell and Jessica Hayes-Hill ran a 2 day coaching and training clinic for beginner, intermediate and advanced athletes in March. This was attended by over a dozen new beginner athletes from Gauteng and Kzn as well as intermediate and high performance athletes from Gauteng and Western Cape. We are delighted to have so many new athletes joining the sport.
SA Masters Swimming: March 24
Team Phoenix was asked to take part in the Opening Ceremony of the SA Masters Championships as the main event. The two Solos, Duet and Mixed Duet performances wowed the appreciative audience - certainly the biggest audience to watch Artistic swimming in South Africa in about 20 years! We were delighted to assist SA Masters and the athletes were inspired by the key note address from legendary SA Olympic swimmer Penny Heyns.
Competitions:
SA National Age Groups Dec 23 and SA Nationals and Level 3 March 24
The past 18 months has seen incredible performances from our athletes both locally and Internationally.
Team Phoenix athletes dominated the events they entered and we are proud to have the Novice, 12&Under, Youth and Junior Solo champions as well as the Novice, Youth and Senior Duet champions across both SA National Age Group and SA Nationals. We are also pleased to have our male athlete and mixed duet competing exceptional well at SA Nationals level - although they are the only competitors.
Team Phoenix Cosmo Dolphins - won the Top club award.
Events entered: 24 - Gold: 18 ; Silver: 2 ; Bronze: 2
Senior World Championships - 2023 Fukuoka. July 23
The SA National team comprised of all Team Phoenix athletes and coaches.
Skye (Solo), Laura and Jessica (Duet) and Vicky (Coach) and Tanya (Assistant Coach).
The team produced the best ever results for a South Africa team at World Championships with the highest ever placings in the Solo and Duet routines. A testament to the hard work of both the athletes and the coaching team.
Senior World Championships - 2024 Doha February 24
Laura and Jessica as the SA National Duet Champions were selected to the team for the competition. Doha also served as the Olympic qualifier.
In a devastating development in Doha, Laura and Jessica were unable to compete due to circumstances beyond their control.
Sportex International Competition - May 24
Exposure to international competition is critical for improvement - the learning experience is so important. Team Phoenix traveled with a team of 12 athletes to Abu Dhabi with a team consisting of Novice to Masters athletes - 9 athletes competing overseas for the first time. The competition was very successful with excellent performances from all and although a number of medals were earned, the focus was on learning, making new friends and of course having fun. We were equally pleased to have a number of parents and coaches joining us who made the trip a memorable one.
Grade Exams and Showday - May 24
The Team Phoenix Grade exams and Showday was held toward the end of May as a finale for the season. As always a great opportunity for new and experienced athletes to show off their routines and the work they have done.
The Grade Exams also provides an opportunity for all our new judges to improve their skills after the judges course and we are pleased that all athletes passed their figure grades well.
The Showday was a great success and a fitting way to end the season.
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