COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Synchro has named two-time Olympian Reem Abdalazem as the U.S. National Team Assistant Coach.
“I think Reem is the best person to complete the National Team staff. Reem and I had been working together since 2015,” said U.S. National Team Head Coach Andrea Fuentes. “Our views and coaching philosophies complement each other very well. The good relation between us is key for the fluidity and quality of the training. Our passion for synchro, for innovation and the ambition to rise to the top will be the perfect mix for this great journey.”
Photo Courtesy: USA Synchro
Abdalazem is a two-time Olympian for Egypt, a Collegiate and U.S. National Champion, and a nationally recognized coach in the U.S. She has more than 10 years of international experience and competition in World Championships, World Trophies, Comen Cups and various other international competitions. She was and still remains the first Egyptian to ever place first at a Comen Cup competition.
“This is an exciting time for USA Synchro. While there has been some change within the organization, it is a great opportunity for Andrea and Reem to begin developing our National Team together, while the national office staff develops the same level of support for the entirety of the organization, “said USA Synchro CEO Adam Andrasko. “Their experience and camaraderie are unique in sports, and all of synchro in the U.S. will benefit from their leadership.”
Abdalazem has been part of USA Synchro for seven years, where she worked in several different roles. She was an all-star athlete at Lindenwood University, who brought the first medal to their program. She was also the first to win a gold medal for Lindenwood alongside Mary Kilman, and as team captain, she led her team to their first national championship while winning gold in every event. Abdalazem was later the head coach at Lindenwood University, where her team won the U.S. National Championship and she earned the “Coach of the Year” title.
She has been the assistant director and head coach of the junior team at Andover/ North Andover (ANA) synchro, where she also earned the East Zone “Coach of the Year” title and captured ANA’s first USA Synchro bronze and gold medals in the history of the club.
Abdalazem has run several camps and clinics around the U.S. in the past four years. This year she was the USA National Talent Camp Head Coach, Silver Camp Head Coach, All-star Camp Coach, and the Olympic Developmental Camp Coach. She has coached at other camps outside the U.S. such as Synkrolovers camp and Offlimits Camp with Andrea Fuentes, Paula Tirados and Svetlana Romashina. She also runs her own camps and worked with athletes from all around the world, including Puerto Rico, Aruba, Germany, Spain, and Egypt.
Abdalazem has a pre-established working relationship with Fuentes. “Andrea and I have worked together for four years now, and we have worked through challenges. We find common ground in the way we coach,” Abdalazem said. “We build off of each other’s strengths, and we have a palpable distinct rhythm in the way we work together. We are both students of the sport. We develop as it develops, we create, and we have no limits.”
Abdalazem, who speaks English, Arabic, Spanish and some French, brings a different kind of culture to her athletes, emphasizing the importance of their mental strength and positive mindset.
“I teach my athletes to have a purpose in everything they do, individually and as a team,” she said. “I am so excited to help educate these athletes, to bring something new to this program, and to work with Andrea full-time. I believe that with a strong team frame of mind, smart coaching tactics and knowing our competition, we will be one step ahead and our athletes will feel prepared, confident and ready to make history.
“I am really excited and grateful for this amazing opportunity. I have a proven history of making a difference, and I will not falter in continuing to do so with Andrea, the team and with USA Synchro.”
USA Synchro contributed to this press release.