Partnership Drives Dolphin Rite of Passage

IT’S an excellence program that is fast becoming a Dolphin rite of passage.

Most of the Dolphins lining up at the Paris selection trials at Brisbane Aquatic Centre next week are graduates of the Pho3nix Junior Excellence (JX) program including Olympic medallists Mollie O’Callaghan, Isaac Cooper and Arianne Titmus.

The program supports young Aussie swimmers at the start of their journey and today, Swimming Australia, Mana Group and the Pho3nix Foundation are excited to announce a two-year extension of the naming rights partnership for the JX program.

This weekend, just six days out from Olympic and Paralympic selection, more than 250 aspiring Dolphins will participate in the JX program designed for kids aged 9-13

The program  aims to recognise and inspire young swimmers and build commitment to, and enthusiasm for, the pathway into senior swimming.

Since the relaunch of the JX program, over 14,500 athletes and 20 clinics have been held across Australia, giving young swimmers access to great coaches, Australian swimmers and Dolphins’ alumni.

During the first year of the partnership, the program expanded to include the first open water Pho3nix Junior Excellence clinic, held in Busselton, Western Australia.

The strategic partnership aligns with Pho3nix Foundation’s global mission to encourage more kids to be more active, more often.

The ongoing support of Mana Group and Pho3nix Foundation will ensure young swimmers continue to have access to development clinics across the country as they progress through various stages of their swimming development, honing the skills and aptitude required to compete at senior level.

The Pho3nix Junior Excellence Program is Swimming Australia’s development program and is conducted through local swimming clubs and dedicated clinics, and since inception in 2007, more than 214,000 participants have taken part.

As a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to inspiring children to participate in sport, Pho3nix Foundation supports pathways from participation to progression into professional sport through its programs around the world.

Through this partnership, Swimming Australia is part of the global Pho3nix movement, and Pho3nix Foundation and Mana Group are proud to continue to support Australia’s #1 Olympic and Paralympic sport.

Chris McCormack, Pho3nix Foundation Board Member and Executive Chairman of Mana Group, emphasised the importance of the partnership renewal with Swimming Australia.

“We take pride in being recognised as the official Sport for Social Purpose organisation of Swimming Australia. Australia’s Olympic and world champions have emerged from the Junior Excellence program, but more importantly, it instills a lifelong passion for swimming,” he said.

“We’re dedicated to supporting programs, such as the Pho3nix Junior Excellence Program, that promote youth participation in sports. Participation in swimming, and sport in general, has a positive impact on personal development, health, and overall well-being, for young Australians.

“We’re proud to have the Junior Excellence program as part of our global Pho3nix Foundation portfolio.”

Swimming Australia’s EGM – Commercial, Marketing and Events, Jodie Hawkins, said the ongoing partnership allows the Pho3nix JX program to continue to deliver for Australian swimming and the Pho3nix Foundation.

“The alignment between the organisation’s goal in keeping kids active ensures this program will support our young swimmers for years to come,” Hawkins said.

“We know this program has been a breeding ground for many of our current Dolphins and the support of Mana Group and the Pho3nix Foundation ensures this will continue to be the case for many years to come.”