The championships took place from June 29 to July 2.
Bouwer received a gold medal for representing South Africa in the Masters 40+ Female Division.
She also won the 2017 Female Athlete of the Year Award.
The 43-year-old won the title in the Masters 40+ division in the National Pole Sports Competition in 2014, 2015 and 2017.
Bouwer trains at her own studio in Benoni.
Competing for the third time this year, Bouwer’s previous awards include:
• 2015 – World Pole Sports Championships – Masters 40+, silver medallist
• 2015 – Pole World News nomination for most positive role model in the pole and aerial community
• 2015 – The Pole Factor, Professional Pole Artiste – winner
• 2016 – She formed part of a seven-person IPSF delegation invited by The Association For International Sport for All (Tafisa) to present pole as a sport to the Olympic Committee in Indonesia
• 2016 – The Pole Factor, Professional Pole Artiste – silver medallist
“Standing on the podium singing our national anthem and holding our beautiful flag is more than I could ever dream of,” she told the City Times.
“Winning the IPSF award for Female Pole Athlete of the Year is the highlight of my professional career as a pole sports athlete.”
Pole dancing as a sport
Benita Bouwer, a professional pole athlete and owner of Pole Physiques Studio describes pole fitness as a progressive form of exercise that should be thought of as ballet or gymnastics with a stationary or spinning pole as apparatus.
“It is definitely not for the faint-hearted, but with the right attitude you will enjoy benefits such as increased confidence, flexibility, muscle tone, strength and weight loss,” she said.
BCT: Are there stereotypes around pole dancing as a sport?
BB: So much has been said about the two sides to pole: sports/fitness/art/dance versus sensual.
I believe that the pole industry is big enough to cater for the specific requirements of the individual, whether it is the more sensual side of the pole or the more athletic approach.
People are exercising and empowering themselves, so either way, it is a win-win situation.
There has been a significant shift in the persons interested in taking up the pole – at first the curious social crowd, but the trend is now definitely leaning more towards the athletic/health conscious aspects.
BCT: Where do you compete?
BB: There are various pole competitions to choose from locally and internationally throughout the year.
My students and I try and support as many of the good local pole competitions as possible.
For me personally, I enjoy the challenges that come with entering the World Pole Sports Championships, mainly because it differs vastly from my more artistic approach and forces me to grow, not only as an athlete, or as a dancer, but also as a person.
It is a fierce competition, showcasing the cream of the crop from around 35 different countries and 3 500 athletes.
BCT: Is pole sports limited to age?
BB: No, children as young as five and adults into the 60s take part in this progressive form of exercise. As long as you have a clean bill of health you are good to go.
BCT: What are some of the challenges you face as a pole athlete?
BB: Weather conditions. When we travel overseas, the weather changes and affects the grip on the pole.
Financial constraints. The exchange rate makes competing internationally expensive.
We train, perform and compete on poles approximately 4m high and we take every precaution to ensure safety.
BCT: What inspired you to become a pole athlete?
BB: Retiring from my career as a professional ballet dancer, I was looking for an alternative fitness regime.
I loved the total body work out, I enjoy the visual lines and shapes that the body can create and the partnership between strength and flexibility and acrobatic and artistic skills.
Also read: It’s a wrap from Greeff
Follow us on these platforms:
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp: 079 431 1217
Instagram: benonicitytimes.co.za
