Olympic hopefuls in pole position

PETER DRURY/Waikato Times

OLYMPIC DREAM: Kylie Mills illustrates a possible new use for netball poles should pole dancing be recognised as an Olympic sport.

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Kylie Mills can see the day when pole dancing gets a whirl as an Olympic sport.

Once strictly the domain of red light districts, in recent years pole dancing has become mainstream as a lifestyle recreation.

Now pressure is building for it to be further recognised as a competitive sport, in light of the athleticism, dedication and skill needed to perform increasingly acrobatic manoeuvres.

Just over a week ago Ania Przeplasko, head of the International Pole Dancing Fitness Association argued there was a need for the Olympic community to acknowledge the number of people attempting pole fitness routines these days. Olympic recognition would be a victory for under-appreciated sports-people worldwide.

There has also been a petition launched to have pole dancing added to the 2012 London Games, though this move has come far too late, according to officials.

However there is hope that it could still be included as a "test" event, before a more formal pitch for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Ms Mills, a 32-year-old mother of three who is also one of Hamilton's most agile pole dancers and a tutor of dozens of novices, has backed that call.

"I think its an amazing and painful sport," she said. "It's definitely come a long way from strip joints and nipple tassles.

"I think it would be the most watched event at the Olympics.

"I'm not sure I'd be an Olympic contender  I might be a bit over the pole-dancing hill by then  but as a sport it's not unlike ice skating. There's the technical (tricks) side, fluidity, timing, dance, music, gymnastic ability."

And she noted the Olympic movement has already embraced far more obscure sports.

"We have snowboarding. Why not pole dancing?"

Ms Mills has taught housewives, older women, and mothers trying to get their body back into shape after giving birth, and said it could be judged along similar lines to gymnastics or synchronised swimming.

"It's just a matter of dropping the stigma."

However pole dancing need not lose its sensual side in any Olympic bid.

"It's an amazing sport but it needs to have women scantily clad for grip and manoeuvring.

"Figure skating, and to a point, some forms of gymnastics, already have a degree of sensuality. It's a thing of beauty and talent when performed right."

Ms Mills said "sexiness" need not be part of any scoring regime.

"Maybe we haven't got a 'swizzle' to rate but a fallen angel into a reverse-grip superman, finished with a straddle split dismount can be rated."

Ms Mills was first tutored in pole dancing by high profile Hamilton dancer Lisa Lewis over a decade ago.

Ms Lewis warned females not to rush out and buy a pole in the hope of making the Olympic team.

"There are girls that train as hard as a ballerina and work the pole eight hours a night," she said.

"But if the Olympics did proceed with pole dancing, us girls wouldn't have a chance because the world's top gymnasts would be all over it."

Nor, Ms Lewis said, did the prospect of making a New Zealand pole dancing team have much appeal.

"I prefer lap dancing these days," she said. "I'd definitely be up for a gold medal if lap dancing made the Olympics."

- © Fairfax NZ News