A greater appreciation for the sport is what local pole champion Anna Edmundson would like people to take away from her recent victory at the WA Pole Championships.
The 38-year-old Busselton resident took away first place in the amateur division of the competition, where she said she squared off against some of the state’s most talented dancers.
“The people I was going up against were great – they actually blew me away with their talent,” she said.
“I was nervous going into it but everyone there was very nice and it was great to talk with the other girls.”
Anna’s Coach Tracey Ecclestone said she was incredibly proud of her dedicated student.
“I spotted the talent in Anna a long time ago. Pretty much as soon as I met her I knew she was a winner,” she said.
“But Anna’s also very humble which is a rare quality to find in a champion winner.”
“We’re preparing for her next competition which comes up in August then after that we’ll be getting ready for the nationals in Sydney which come around in December.”
Ms Edmundson said even though their routines only go for two-and-a-half minutes, the physical exertion was tremendous.
“It takes a lot of work to stay on the pole and perform, you come down puffed and sweaty, it’s similar to gymnastics in the way you perform a theatrical but physically exerting routine.”
But aside from the strength and stamina required to perform on the pole Ms Edmundson said their is still a stigma around the sport.
“It’s beginning to become less and less, especially in the last few years and there is even talk of the sport becoming recognised by the Olympic Committee.”
Ms Ecclestone said she thought in the last five years the stigma surrounding the sport has began to dissolve.
“I think can see the athleticism in what we do but as long as there are people in clubs dancing there’s always going to be that thought in the back of some minds.”
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