SynchroNice / Third Edition / 2018

SYNCHRO NICE 57 TEAM PHOENIX When we asked our contact at Team Phoenix if we could do an Interview with their team captain, she told us that this would be no problem, but it would be an Interview with 2 … 24-year-old Team Phoenix captain Anja Verpoort and their 22-year-old co-captain Melanie Cortvrindt. Unusual but since Team Phoenix is Belgium’s big surprise at the next World Championship in Stockholm Sweden, we decided to go for it. The captains of... So, Anja what do you do for a living? I’m a student in Ghent, studying “Event management” and in my spare time I give dance classes to children in the age of 9 to 12 years and I teach Synchronized Skating to a Mixed Age team “Ice Energy” at our club in Liederkerke. How about you Melanie? I’m a Physical Education and Sports Science student at the University of Ghent. And how do you spend your spare time? Figure skating of course, but I’m also doing an internship to become a Personal Trainer and learning toddlers how to swim. We heard the rest of the team assigned you a nickname Melanie? Yep, “Sporty Spice” (Melanie C. from the Spice girls) probably because of all my sports lectures at university, my internship as a personal trainer and the practices for the team. I’m also a true motivator and it’s also fair to say that I’m a real mediator. I really dislike fights and I will always try to clear the air. Furthermore, now we’re at it, I would also call myself, compassionate, sensitive and definitely very patient. And you Anja which characteristics apply to you… In your opin- ion? Hmmm, I believe that I’m a positive person and a real go-getter so to say. Definitely a leader but sociable and addicted to a good series on for instance Netflix. The positive person in me tries to make the best of every situation but always with a realistic view. I also don’t give up easily on things even if it’s hard. Leadership is something that comes natural to me, but is a quality that certainly evolved during my term as team captain. And about the series…it’s not like I’m lying on the couch all day watching series, but when I start a new one, I finish it by the end of the week if possible, hahaha. Let’s take you back to your childhood…How did it all start? Where did the 2 of you grow up for instance and start skating? Anja? I grew up in Wevelgem, close to Courtrai and definitely with a West Flemish accent… perhaps indeed a little odd accent but always good enough for the team to make fun of and have a good laugh. Since I started studying however I’ve been living in a student-apartment in Ghent, a wonderful city. I’d like to continue living here after graduation. What about you Sporty Spice do you also live in Ghent? No, I still live where I grew up, that’s in Affligem a