Aerial Sports South Africa is a newly established federation dedicated to pole and aerial sports, affiliated with the Pole Sports and Arts World Federation (POSA). Our mission is to promote and develop these exciting sports throughout South Africa.
What Are Pole and Aerial Sports?
Pole and aerial sports share similarities with acrobatics and gymnastics, featuring athletes who utilize a pole, aerial hoop or silks to perform breathtaking feats of strength and flexibility. This rapidly growing sport attracts a wide range of participants, from young children to masters athletes in their fifties and sixties.
Why Aerial Sports South Africa?
The primary goal of our federation is to foster inclusivity, inspire talent, and challenge the stigma surrounding our sport. While pole and aerial sports are becoming increasingly popular in South Africa, we still trail behind other countries in terms of professionalism and competitive opportunities for our athletes. Nevertheless, South Africa has shown its potential on the world stage. In 2022, Chantal Cornelissen, a South African pole athlete and the founder of Aerial Sports South Africa, won a gold medal and secured the title of World Champion at the POSA World Championships through a wild card entry.
In 2023, Team South Africa achieved notable success by bringing home three bronze medals from the Pole Art World Championship in Barcelona, Spain, reinforcing the incredible talent present in our country:
- Chantal Cornelissen – Pole Art Elite Masters +40
- Monique Wastie – Pole Art Amateur Masters +40
- Fern Hartley – Pole Art Amateur Senior
In 2024, they added three more medals to their achievements:
- Stella van Duuran – 1st place Hoop Art Amateur Junior Varsity (October – Athens, Greece)
- Renate Steynberg – 3rd place Hoop Art Amateur Masters +40 (October – Athens, Greece)
- Chantal Cornelissen – 2nd place Hoop Sport Elite Masters +40 (November – Cesenatico, Italy)
By participating in our national competitions, athletes have the chance to follow in these footsteps, earn their place on the international stage, and represent South Africa at one of the three prestigious POSA World Championships (Aerial Sport, Pole Sport, and Pole Art).
Empowering Women
What sets pole and aerial sports apart is their unique blend of physical challenge and strength, particularly as they are predominantly practiced by women. The testimonials below highlight how our federation is committed to building a strong and supportive community for pole and aerial sports in South Africa, where athletes can pursue their passions and excel on the global stage.
Testimonials from some athletes:
“Watching a pole competition is like watching the Olympics. This sport really deserves more recognition!”
“I come from a dancing and personal training background so the sport/strength as well as the beauty of the movements were amazing to me. I participated in a showcase last year and what I loved was the comments from people that had no idea that pole dancing ‘was like that’! Just opening people’s eyes to the artistic aspect of the sport is great and the friendships I have made are priceless.”
“From a couch potato to finding a sport that I am obsessed with is still a pretty amazing experience. I didn’t ever think that a sport can change lives in such a beautiful way, but I am living proof of this.”
“Pole sport has had a major impact on my life, not only in sports but in my career. It has taught me grit, perseverance, determination and the importance of having trust in my own ability. It is a sport that I will endorse for all women – students, mothers, entrepreneurs, executives and young girls alike, not only because of what it enables you to do, but who it allows you to become, which is a woman of strength and character.”
“Pole has not only impacted my physical strength, it’s improved my balance, my mobility and my grace. I used to see myself as an overweight mom of two, now I consider myself an athlete!”
“Never before have I been in such an incredibly enriching environment of women genuinely supporting women; we are all on this empowering journey together, uplifting and inspiring one another to reach new heights.”
“Starting my pole journey has definitely been one of the best life decisions and I highly recommend it to everyone. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.”
“Hoop started out as a fun activity to get me out of the house and soon grew to be a staple in my life. I’ve grown so much during this time, physically I’m stronger and have a real appreciation for my body and its abilities. I’ve also grown more confident and learnt that it’s alright to not be great at something at first, I just need to keep trying.”