We are pleased to announce Allison Pratt as the winner of the Swim England West Midlands Technical Official of the Year Award 2024.
Allison has been a hugely influential figure in Artistic Swimming, travelling the world to share her skills and support the sport and the athletes who take part. She is not only a champion for the Region, but for the country, and we are honoured to be able to deliver her this award.
“In previous years, Allison has officiated at European championships, European Games, Asian Games, World series, World Championships, 2012 Olympic Games, and Olympic qualifiers for Rio and Tokyo, and is adding another Olympic Games to that list this year in Paris, where she will be one of the most esteemed judges and officials at the first Games with the new rules and new role of the Technical Controller.“
“In 2023-24 season alone, [Allison] has already travelled all over the world ensuring accuracy, fairness, and greatness at the most prestigious international competitions and at domestic events too- ranging from novice events and grade days to the National Championships.”
“This shows the great extent of Alison’s humility and her passion for the sport and her role as, despite her world-renown success, she still prioritises Swim England events, and the grassroots of Artistic Swimming, especially at her club: City of Birmingham, where she inspires many of her swimmers to qualify as judges and officials too, or just to get involves, volunteer, and have fun.”
“Ali also travels to Bristol to the Team GB Artistic Swimming team regularly to technical control their routines and make sure their coach cards are correct, which allows them to achieve highly at national competitions. This also includes helping the GB national duet, Kate and Izzy, who she helped with the new rules before they competed at the Olympic qualifiers.”
“She is a true advocate for the sport that is often so overlooked, and British Artistic Swimming would not be making the leaps and bounds that it has been achieving in recent years without her.”
“Ali is dedicated to artistic swimming by always doing her best to help improve the national ranking in the sport. She shows passion by always helping other clubs without any benefits for herself which purely demonstrated her love for this sport.”
“Ali does all this with a smile on her face which illustrates how much she really enjoys what she does.”
Well done Ali!
Stay tuned for our other Regional Award Winners, as well as a summary of all the winners and runners-up from 2024.
Award winners will be invited to the Swim England National Awards Ceremony in November, and their name will go forward for consideration to receive a National Award.
Thank you to everyone who completed a nomination, and congratulations to everyone who was nominated. We are so proud of our fantastic Aquatics community in the West Midlands.