PanAm Aquatics celebrates a year of achievements, unveils new leadership

PanAm Aquatics, the governing body of all aquatic disciplines in the Americas, held its first Ordinary Congress under its new name and brand on October 24th, 2023, at the 2023 PanAm Games in Santiago, Chile. This historic event brought together representatives from more than 33 countries, both in person and virtually, marking a momentous occasion for aquatics across the Americas.

The Congress was a platform for reflection on the extraordinary progress we’ve made together over the past year. In the ever-evolving athletic landscape, PanAm Aquatics has transitioned from primarily an administrative organization with a handful of events to a dynamic, forward-thinking entity. Some highlights include:

• 32.5% increase in social media followers
• Over 800,000 social media impressions
• A remarkable 595% increase in post reach across platforms
• An astonishing 830% increase in the number of unique visitors to their website
• Underwater Chats, the initiative of the year, has gathered the knowledge and experience of 50+ expert and athlete panelists with over 900+ registrations. The webinars are available on YouTube and will soon become a Spotify podcast.

The organization’s commitment to athlete development remains unwavering, with investments in leadership, coaching, and officiating. The Congress also featured comprehensive reports for each aquatic discipline, showcasing the organization’s remarkable growth and development in hosting events in the Americas, facilitating training and education sessions, and providing a platform for competitive events to take place all throughout the continent.

The event also featured insightful presentations by our sponsors, Fluidra and Malmsten. Additionally, PanAm Aquatics expressed gratitude to its sponsors, Fluidra, Malmsten, Deporte Virtual, and Hasty Awards, for their unwavering support and trust in advancing the mission of promoting Aquatics across the continent. Moreover, further collaboration with World Aquatics has been pivotal in shaping the aquatics landscape in the continent, while strong partnerships have strengthened PanAm Aquatics’ financial foundation.

Another significant highlight of the event was the election and unveiling of an exceptional group of individuals who will lead PanAm Aquatics in its mission to cultivate a vibrant aquatic community throughout the Americas. The new leadership team comprises Maureen Croes as President (Aruba), Lisa Schott as General Secretary (Canada), Van Donkersgoed as Treasurer (USA), Claudia Molkembuhr as Vice President (Chile), Radhames Tavarez as Vice President (Dominican Republic), Athlete Members Alia Atkinson (Jamaica) and Anthony Ervin (USA), and Conrad Hadubiak (Canada), Carmen Marquez (El Salvador), Eddie Hazell (Saint Lucia), Diane Maiese (USA), and Nikola Ustavdich (Peru).

Looking forward, PanAm Aquatics, under the continued leadership of President Maureen Croes, carries a clear mission and vision for 2023 to 2027. This entails the continued development of aquatic sports in the Americas to empower all participants to achieve excellence, both in sport and life. Moreover, efforts are geared towards creating a thriving aquatic sports community within the Americas, encompassing athletes, governance leaders, technical officials, and coaches.

The journey ahead focuses on fostering relationships, ensuring accessible education opportunities, delivering quality events, and strengthening the financial status of PanAm Aquatics. The organization is dedicated to building a legacy of inclusion, diversity, and prosperity in aquatics throughout the continent.

As we embark on this new term, PanAm Aquatics invites everyone to dive into the future with unwavering determination, knowing that we will emerge stronger and more united than ever. Together, we will continue to build a thriving aquatic community that celebrates excellence in aquatics across the Americas.