During her tenure as Assistant Head Coach for the Andover/North Andover YMCA Synchronized Swim Team (ANA Synchro), Reem Abdalazem has taken the team to new heights. Abdalazem, who is leaving the program in January to take a position as the Assistant National Team Coach for USA Synchro, helped secure ANA Synchro’s first ever gold medal at the East Zone Junior/Senior Championships as well as the highest ranking at the U.S. Junior National Championships in 2018 with a 3rd place finish in team and combo. ANA Head Coach Leah Pinette says Abdalazem worked to develop athletes and help them train for some of the most difficult and the most artistically advanced choreography ANA Synchro has ever had.
“Reem’s energy and elite-level coaching style will be greatly missed,” said Pinette. “While observing her coaching, she was highly involved in her athlete’s development in and out of the pool and she brought many skills to help improve the program as a whole. Reem is truly a talented coach.”
A two-time Olympian for Egypt, a Collegiate and U.S. National Champion, and a nationally-recognized coach, Abdalazem was awarded Coach of the Year last season. She led many clinics during her time at the ANA Synchro program, including the 2018 Silver Clinic, 2018 All Star Camp, and National Talent Camp for two summers in 2017 and 2018. Pinette says she is proud to see Abdalazem’s talent recognized by USA Synchro.
“In order to be competitive on the national level, one needs to be disciplined, detail-oriented and strategic in your coaching techniques. Reem has it all,” said Pinette. “She brought our junior program to the level both of us were striving for from the beginning. She will continue to do great things with USA Synchro.”
Abdalazem points to her time at ANA Synchro as a time of growth for her and for the team.
“I am so happy I got to have this opportunity for the past two years. The ANA program has allowed me to raise the bar the way I wanted to and push my athletes immensely,” Abdalazem said. “I have learned and given so much here, and I know the program will only continue growing. I am sad to leave all the great athletes, coaches, parents and people I’ve met, but I am grateful for all the support and love I’ve felt.”
Abdalazem will help ANA Synchro start the season before moving on to her new post. Assistant Coach Eugenia Gillan, who served as head coach of ANA Synchro for more than 25 years before taking time off to pursue a career in high tech, has returned to the team to start the season as well.