Latest news with #aquatics
Zawya
2 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
Artemis Education appoints world champion Emma Igelström as Director of Aquatics
DOHA, QATAR: Artemis Education, a growing international schools group committed to delivering outstanding, values-driven education, is proud to announce the appointment of Emma Igelström as its new Director of Aquatics and Director of Programmes, Strategy and Growth at Artemex, the dedicated sports and enrichment division for Artemis Education. This marks a major step forward in the organisation's commitment to elite performance, inclusive access, and whole-child holistic development through sport. Part of Artemis Education, Artemex is set up to deliver high-quality enrichment opportunities that go beyond the classroom, supporting students of all abilities through purpose-led programmes. A 5-time world champion swimmer, seven-time world record holder, twelve-time European champion, and Olympian, Emma Igelström made history as the first woman to swim the 50m short course breaststroke in under 30 seconds. Since retiring from competition in the early 2000s, she has focused her career on advancing aquatics and wellness programmes across Europe and the Middle East, with a strong emphasis on youth development, access, and community wellbeing. During her time in Saudi Arabia, she was the founder of one of the world's biggest swimming academies. In her new role, Emma will oversee all aquatics programming, lead strategic development of Artemex's sport and enrichment pathways, and manage the Queen's Qatar Sports Centre, an advanced, multi-sport facility that is also part of the Artemis Education network. 'Joining Artemex is an opportunity to do meaningful work that extends far beyond competition,' said Emma Igelström. 'I'm passionate about opening access, breaking down barriers, and shaping a culture that supports physical and mental wellness. This is about unlocking the potential of every child, every family, and every community we serve.' Andy Coomer, Director of Experience at Artemis Education, stated: 'Emma brings unmatched international experience and a deep understanding of how sport can shape lives. She is a world-class athlete, but more importantly, she is a thoughtful leader and advocate for the power of movement, community, and purpose. We're thrilled to have her join us as we continue to position Artemex as a driving force for youth development, wellbeing, and access to high-quality sport and enrichment programmes.' Commenting on the appointment, Niall Brennan, CEO of Artemis Education, said: 'Emma's exceptional expertise and clear vision will play a key role in showing how sport and enrichment can elevate a child's educational journey. Her leadership at Artemex will support our ambition to create learning environments where physical development, personal growth, and community connection are deeply integrated into school life. At Artemis Education, we are building a model of education that prepares young people to thrive, with purpose, in every aspect of their lives.' With world-class leadership and a clear sense of purpose, Artemex is expanding its reach across Artemis schools to inspire the next generation through high performance delivery, superb coaching and creativity within the community. For media enquiries, please contact: Lauren Fryer, Head of Marketing, Artemis Education: About Artemis Education: Artemis Education is a growing private international schools' group with a mission to improve access to outstanding education. We deliver incredible, whole-child education focusing on academic rigour, and the accredited curricula we offer are enriched by dynamic extracurricular experiences. We concentrate on universal values, individual growth, and holistic development to enable children to realise their full potential, build resilience, and become responsible citizens of the world. Our schools combine best-in-class staff, inspirational facilities, and innovative use of technology that enhances the effectiveness of our teaching. We design the majority of our schools from the ground up, building new-generation campuses. Sustainability metrics are at the core of the design of our facilities and how we operate. We have an ambitious programme to meet the growing demand from parents seeking a high-quality, international education in Europe and the Middle East. About Artemex Artemex is the dedicated sports and enrichment division of Artemis Education, created to provide exceptional co-curricular opportunities that go beyond the classroom. Operating across Artemis schools in Europe and the Middle East, Artemex offers specialised programmes in swimming, athletics, gymnastics, football, music, drama, and public speaking. Each Artemex academy is designed to serve both students and the wider community, with pathways for all ages and abilities—from grassroots development to elite performance. Programmes are delivered by expert coaches and practitioners, supported by state-of-the-art facilities and structured progression models. Artemex also manages flagship school-based sports centres, including Queen's Sports Centre in Doha, and collaborates with Olympic ambassadors to inspire and empower the next generation. All offerings reflect the Artemis Promise: a commitment to personal growth, community impact, and sustainable, inclusive education.
Globe and Mail
27-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
How luxury gyms aim to reach the next wellness frontier
What was once an expansive garage is now home to a large swimming pool in Ottawa's newest wellness destination – a members-only health and fitness sanctuary that merges self-care and sophistication. Altea Active, a chain of new fitness and wellness centres, opened the pool at its 129,000-square-foot Ottawa outpost in early May, says chief executive officer Jeff York, a former executive at both Farm Boy and retailer Giant Tiger. With high-class amenities such as aquatics facilities, recovery areas and multiple types of fitness classes, Altea Ottawa – which officially opened in November – is redefining how and when Canadians get their sweat on in a postpandemic world. In the year after June, 2022, almost 400 fitness and recreational sports centres opened across the country, according to Statistics Canada. At the same time, fitness industry revenue hit nearly $4.3-billion in 2022, up from $3-billion a year earlier as pandemic restrictions relaxed. It's 'a new day in fitness' across the country, says Sara Gilbert, president of the Fitness Industry Council of Canada. While Canadians once spent money on trips they had postponed during COVID, they've 'turned to themselves again' with a renewed sense of urgency, she adds. The renovation of an old Canadian Tire into arguably Ottawa's most modern fitness facility reflects an industry that has 'always been at the forefront of innovation,' Ms. Gilbert says. 'You look back in the 1980s and we had these huge step-aerobic studios, and that took up most of the space in gyms. The gym industry … our strength is the ability to innovate and always listen to what members need, and the ongoing transition of our facilities to meet those needs.' Altea Ottawa is now Canada's largest fitness and wellness centre. The $30-million facility boasts nine fitness studios (the spin room alone cost $1-million), six pickleball courts, exercise machines of all kinds and zones for emerging fitness-class concepts such as HyRox (the new CrossFit, Mr. York says). There's also a postworkout recovery area with red-light therapy and Hyperice cold-therapy boots, a women-only exercise space, the new 25-metre pool, as well as a smoothie bar and a Starbucks in the lobby. There are four other Altea locations across the country. A fifth will arrive soon in the former 31,000-square-foot Nordstrom Rack in Toronto's upscale Yorkville neighbourhood. The forthcoming location will open under the name of AVANT by Altea Active – the company's ultrapremium offering that's specific to urban areas such as Yorkville. 'We tend to look at real estate as a static thing, but it services a fluid world, and as that world ebbs and flows, change abounds,' says Shawn Hamilton, principal at Proveras Commercial Realty in Ottawa. 'Spaces get occupied with uses we would never have dreamed of.' Unlike other large-scale gyms, Altea's facilities won't be popping up everywhere. 'It's the opposite of GoodLife. We want to be exclusive,' Mr. York explains. 'We are going to [places] where the market is already there for people who want the best. But we want to deliver it at a competitive price where people are still getting value.' Mr. York says Altea's competition are mid-sized fitness studios. If you're a regular at hot yoga, boot camps and spin classes, you could pay upward of $1,000 a month in fees, he explains. Altea offers all that and more in one place – something that is becoming more common across the country. Altea is not the only fitness centre working to redefine exercise culture in Canada. At Toronto's The Well, a mixed-use complex less than a kilometre from the CN Tower, sits the newest Sweat and Tonic – a cheekily-named boutique gym that offers more than a half-dozen classes, personal training, a spa with registered massage therapists, a pool and sauna. The city's Yorkville neighbourhood is also saturated with fitness options, including luxury gym Equinox, Barry's Bootcamp and three GoodLife gyms. 'You've got to be where people live, work and play. That's the key for the future,' Mr. York says. 'You upgrade your facility because that's where the market is going. The murky middle is not where you want to be.' Altea's Ottawa plan was clear from the start, Mr. York explains, with 80 per cent of the original blueprint becoming reality. It eliminated a restaurant and members' club from the plan – the same thing it did at the Liberty Village location in Toronto – because it wanted to focus on fitness. Altea's renovation in Canada's capital took just over a year. A full month was needed just to remove shelves, nuts and bolts from the Canadian Tire for what would become the facility's hotel-like lobby, Mr. York says. The challenges also ranged from laughable – swapping the directions of the old escalators – to serious, such as installing individual HVAC systems in each room and studio. It was a hurdle, but it was a success. Despite the facility's roughly 6,000 members and upward of 350 fitness classes per week, there's a reduction in body odour because of the new system. That work was all taking place on the inside. 'No one knew we were working on it because we never changed the physical structure,' Mr. York says. 'The biggest question was, 'When are you going to start construction?' but we had already started for six months. 'Making a big building feel comfortable is hard to do.' Only 16 per cent of Canadians have a gym membership, according to the Health and Fitness Association, so it's no surprise that fitness facilities in Canada would aim to strike a balance between value and choice. 'Many boutiques under one roof is the way fitness should be delivered,' Mr. York says.
CBS News
25-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Nine water safety tips to keep kids safe in the pool this summer
You may be planning a dip in the pool or lake this Memorial Day weekend. Aquatic experts encourage you to take steps to make sure everyone is safe before going into the water. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Carly Drohan is the aquatics leader at Life Time Westlake. She urges people to take precautions before having fun in the water. "Make sure you're being attentive, and make sure we're keeping our eye on our children at all times and not in our phones," Drohan said. Drohan encourages parents to practice the 25-10 rule. The 25-10 rule "If your child cannot swim 25 meters, you should keep an adult that can swim confidently within about 10 feet of them at all times in case something were to happen," Drohan said. Make sure you have tools nearby in case someone starts struggling in the water. "Make sure that you're going to utilize the Shepherd's hook or the ring buoy that's going to be near any body of water that you're going to be playing in," Drohan said. Another tip is to use a mesh or foam life vest for your child instead of an inflatable one. "Inflatables could potentially pop and then create even more of a hazard if your child is going to be left with one arm in the water and such like that," Drohan said. Stay hydrated Drink enough water, particularly with electrolytes, and get your kids in swim lessons as soon as possible. "You can get your kiddos in swim lessons as young as three months old to at least get that water acclimation and safety skills built up so that by the time that they start to get a little older and more excited to explore the pool themselves, they're a bit more comfortable," Drohan said. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. "Always reapply when you're getting out of the water and making sure that after you're in the sun, using that aloe lotion and rehydrating the skin after you get out of the water as well," Drohan said. Wear bright or neon swimsuits since they're easier to spot in the water. Finally, get CPR certified in case you need to save a life in an emergency.
CBC
15-05-2025
- General
- CBC
'So frustrating': Technical problem pushes back London swimming registration
Some London parents were perplexed after they were unable to register their children in the city's aquatics program on Thursday morning. The city said the problem lies with its third-party registration system. Registration for the city's summer swim programs was set to open at 8:30 a.m. Many parents adjust their schedules to get the best chance and register their child before the classes fill up. Kim Lankosz was at her computer and began the registration process right at 8:30 a.m. However, she got an error message at the payment stage and wasn't able to sign her six-year-old daughter up for swim lessons. "It's so frustrating, especially when you set calendars and alarms and you go through all the planning," she told CBC News. "I entered all my details, it took me to the payment page, I clicked 'submit' and it came up with a card error message." Repeated attempts to complete the registration process ended the same way. Then she began to receive messages from colleagues and other parents running into the same issue. "There were about a dozen of us who were like 'What's going on,'" she said. Seeking an explanation, Lankosz called the city and spent two hours on hold before being told that registration was pushed back to next week. The city posted about the problem on their Facebook page just before 9:30 a.m. City responds In a statement sent to CBC News, a city staffer apologized for the delays, which he said were caused by its third-party registration system "which is impacting customers' ability to register for our high-demand aquatic programing." The city said they've pushed the registration back to next week, with no specific time yet set, while the technical issues are sorted out. "Due to the frustration this is causing customers, and the impact it is having on other resources across the corporation, we have decided to pause aquatic registration today and reset the registration date for another day next week, or once the technical issues have been resolved," said the statement by Jon-Paul McGonigle, the city's director of recreation and sport. Lankosz said she'll be back online whenever registration reopens, saying the swim lessons are important to making her daughter water safe for summer. "I'm going to try again, and I hope that I can get into the programs that I want," she said.
CNA
09-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
World Aquatics Championships secures more than S$16m worth of sponsorships
More than S$16 million worth of sponsorships have been secured for July's World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. This is as eight new corporate partners were announced at the event's first community roadshow. Nadine Yeam dives in with the details.
