Athlete sends message of hope to those suffering from mental illness

When pole sport legend Benita Bouwer won the women’s Artistic Pole Masters 40+ title in the International Pole Sport Federation (IPSF) World Pole and Aerial Championships last year, she wanted to portray a message that everyone can relate to.

In her dance, she used a toilet as a prop. This left many wondering what message she was trying to send.

“The vision I had to bring to life was that of our inner struggles, the demons we fight from within. The back-and-forth power struggle; that tug of war from within,” she told the City Times.

Bouwer was creating awareness about Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) because, according to the SA coronavirus portal, mental illness cases skyrocketed during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I needed to be brave by being the voice for many people,” she said.

“I went with body dysmorphia, and my dance was a message of hope that we can change our perceptions and face a new reality.

“During Covid-19, body dysmorphia case numbers increased, and it’s the biggest reason I went with it.”

The 47-year-old explained that the toilet symbolised another mental illness that millions suffer from globally.
She said the toilet symbolised bulimia nervosa, which is a serious eating disorder and is prevalent in South Africa and common among young women, according to Eating Disorders South Africa.

“There has been an increase in people suffering from eating disorders and this is the one area in our lives we can’t control.

“Eating disorders run way deeper than our perceptions of our appearance to ourselves and others.
“There is this control, a feeling of power when we can regulate what we eat and how we can manage our minds and bodies.”

Bouwer’s message was so powerful that she won a gold medal and was the only athlete with a score of 80 and above.

“I spent two years working on this routine. It had to be raw and in your face. It made a big statement, and I had to hide it because if it had gone out early, it would have lost its originality,” she said.

“At 47, I have won the artistic pole sport and I am the only solo athlete from age 18 and above to score 80 and above in the competition, proving that age is just a number. It is an immense honour to be one of the two solo athletes in the world who have won both the coveted titles of pole sport and artistic pole.”

The former ballet dancer said the benefits of pole sport include flexibility, weight loss, increased muscle tone and mobility.

Although pole sport is often confused with pole dancing, Bouwer is adamant that once the sport gains Olympic status, people’s perceptions will change.

“Pole sport has gained the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) observer status and we are aiming to be included in the Olympic Games.

“The perception will always be there but I don’t care what people call it. Pole has got different facets to it and the perception will change once they understand it.”

Bouwer owns Pole Physiques Studio in Western Extension.

See Bouwer’s winning performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XN109TDI&t=29793s

Also Read: Pole athlete Bouwer wins gold

Also Read: Local pole dancer finishes second in World Championships