South African Pole and Aerial athletes are planning to fly the flag high in Poland this year; many are already world record holders and ready to take on the upcoming championship.
South Africa (22 May 2023) – The South African Pole Sports Federation is celebrating the success of its largest local championship and finding South Africa’s best athletes to compete in the upcoming IPSF World Championship later this year. Building on three medal wins from last year, the 2023 team is filled with promise and rising stars!
The sport is slowly but surely being recognised by international sporting bodies and is on its way to hopefully becoming an Olympic and Paralympic sporting code. The South African athletes are proving to be some of the world’s best, which we love!
SAPSF hosted the National Pole and Aerial Championship (NPAC 2023) at the Ferndale Recreation Centre in Johannesburg on the 6th and 7th of May 2023, as a federation member of the International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF). A total of 85 athletes competed in the hopes of earning a place in the international team.
“This year we had a total of 85 athletes competing across Pole Sport, Paraplegic Pole, Ultra Pole, Artistic Pole, Aerial Hoop Sport, and Artistic Aerial Hoop divisions. This year is our largest competition yet. Our athletes represent all levels, ages, genders, and abilities in pole and aerial from across South Africa.”
The national championship organised by SAPSF presented an opportunity for athletes from South Africa to qualify for the upcoming IPSF world championship, scheduled to take place from 25th to 29th October 2023 in Kielce, Poland.
“Our South African team for 2023 comprises 15 athletes, with a diverse age range spanning from 10 to 65 years old. It gives us immense pride to announce that Kaitlin Rawson, an athlete competing in the paraplegic pole division, will be representing our team at the championship.”
Representing South Africa at the International Championship this year will be a host of athletes.
Disciplines:
- Pole Sport
- Artistic Pole
- Aerial Sport
- Artistic Aerial
- Ultra Pole
- Para Pole
“Our Elite Sport and Professional Artistic athletes listed below are all invited to the IPSF Worlds, to represent South Africa in Kielce, Poland between 25th to 29th October 2023.”
Pole Sports
- Camille Du Plessis, Elite, Senior 30+
- Julie Fowler, Elite, Master 40 +
- Debbie Howes, Elite, Master 60+
Artistic Pole
- Daniela Baker, Professional, Senior 18+ (currently ranked number 15 for Pole Sports, Senior 30+ Women)
- Christien Cronje, Professional, Master 40+
- Patrick de Jongh, Professional, Master 40+
Aerial Sports
- Chloe Alers & Jenna Biart, Elite, Youth 10 – 17, Mixed
- Chloe Alers, Elite, Novice 10 – 14, Mixed
- Nakita Santos, Elite, Juniors 15 – 17, Mixed
- Tania Becker, Elite, Senior 18+ (currently ranked number 7 for Aerial Hoop sports)
- Joanna Pawelczyk, Elite, Senior 18+
Artistic Aerial
- Alana Jackson and Cheree-Lee Simpson, Professional, Senior 18+ (Currently ranked number one for Artistic Aerial Hoop Doubles)
- Naikita Santos, Professional, Junior 14 – 17, Mixed
- Cheree-Lee Simpson, Professional, Senior 18+
Ultra Pole
- Camille Du Plessis, Elite
- Patrick De Jongh, Elite
Para Pole
- Kaitlin Rawson, Pole Sport, Elite, PPMP1, Mixed (Currently holding the new world record for Pole Sports, Para Pole PPMP1)
“Competing in our Open Division, we had Ayodimeji Biobaku. To compete at the IPSF Worlds, Ayodimeji competed in our National Competition which is an IPSF-endorsed competition and he will now be able to represent Nigeria for the first time ever at Worlds this year.”
- Ayodimeji Biobaku, Artistic Pole, Professional, Senior 18+
“We are extremely proud to announce that our very own male athlete, Patrick de Jong broke the current world record for, Artistic Pole, Professional, Master 40+. He now holds the world record his division.”
South African Pole and Aerial Achievements:
- Kaitlin Rawson not only set the new World Record last year but is currently ranked number one for Pole Sports, Para Pole PPMP1.
- Alana Jackson and Cheree-Lee Simpson, currently are ranked number one for Artistic Aerial, Professional, Senior 18+, Aerial Hoop Doubles
- Patrick De Jongh holds the new World Record for Artistic Pole, Professional Masters 40+
“Our Elite Sport and Professional Artistic athletes have performed exceptionally well at the World Pole & Aerial Championships. Since 2013, South Africa has had 48 athletes competing on the international stage and brought home 6 gold medals, 6 silver medals, and 3 bronze medals. We also had several top 10 placements over the years. The number of athletes participating in the SAPSF and IPSF championships have increased steadily.”
About SAPSF and the IPSF
“In short, we are a Non-Profit organization that strives to have our athletes recognised nationally and internationally with representation at multi-sport events, the World Games, and eventually at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
The IPSF was created in 2009 as a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to positively promoting pole as an athletic sport with the long-term goal of becoming part of the Olympic Games.
In 2010 the SAPSF became a member federation of the IPSF. The SAPSF is the only federation in the country that is endorsed by the IPSF. The IPSF and the SAPFS are voluntarily run by members.
In 2016 the IPSF achieved the first step of the recognition process and became a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) signatory and completed its 4th year of testing with no positive results.
In 2017 the IPSF achieved the second step towards its recognition process and was awarded Observer Status of Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) gaining sporting status for pole, documented throughout the world’s media.
Supporting the Athletes
The federation and athletes rely solely on private funding – if any organisation is wanting to assist with sponsorship – kindly contact Amy at competitions@polesports.org.za.
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