Empowering the Next Generation of Global Sports Stars

For the third consecutive year, the Pho3nix Foundation returned to Thailand to hold the Pho3nix Future Camp from 12th-16th November 2024 in Phuket.

Sixteen athletes aged 14 to 19 from 11 nations across four continents, representing seven sports, came together for an inspiring five-day fully funded experience that provided invaluable training and personal growth opportunities to help prepare them for professional sports careers and beyond. This year’s camp also welcomed athletes from the sport of judo as well as from the nations of China, Japan, and Guyana for the first time, further broadening and diversifying the Pho3nix Foundation’s reach around the world.

Pho3nix Future Camp Thailand was hosted by world-renowned sports figures Commonwealth Games gold and Olympic silver medallist John Steffensen and 15-time iron distance triathlon champion Belinda Granger, alongside a stellar line-up of mentors and speakers including legendary sprinter Usain Bolt, mountain bike world champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist Maja Wloszczowska, four-time world champion triathlete and MANA Group Executive Chairman Chris McCormack, MANA Group Chairman Wojtek Kruczynski, and professional sports commentator Will McCloy.

Paris Olympian hurdler Tayleb Willis and Philippine national triathlete Gene Heart Quiambao, both alumni of the Pho3nix Future Camp and current members of the Pho3nix Junior Team, served as inspiring examples of what’s possible on the Pho3nix athletic pathway.

Offering a comprehensive look at what it takes to succeed in professional sport, Pho3nix Future Camp provided workshops on performance nutrition, goal setting, leadership, media training, and giving back to the community. Participants also engaged in sports conditioning sessions and a Q&A session with Olympians, and enjoyed unique experiences like a VIP yacht trip to Phang Nga Bay.

Camp activities concluded with the Pho3nix Kids Triathlon Thailand on November 19 at Thanyapura Phuket, where participants and mentors volunteered at aid stations and the finish line, exemplifying the spirit of giving back and paying forward through sport that is at the heart of all things Pho3nix.

In this part of the world, support for athletic endeavours can be limited to a few mainstream sports; financial and cultural barriers also often stand in the way of reaching the elite level. “This camp is so close to my heart because we are giving them an opportunity of a lifetime and one that they might never otherwise have been given,” says Granger.

Camp participants found the experience empowering. “I know where I want to go and how I want to do it,” says Anucha “Tommy” Rumney, a rugby union player and captain of his school and club teams, who now feels even more motivated to chase his goal of competing in the Olympics and the Rugby World Cup. Indian national cross country champion Vaishnavi Naveen Salagame agrees, saying she appreciated the guidance on cultivating a winning mindset and nurturing meaningful relationships. “I feel grateful, motivated, and inspired to take on new challenges!”

As these young talents return home, they carry with them the lessons, inspiration, and determination to push boundaries and become leaders both on and off the field of play.

Pho3nix Future Camp is part of the Pho3nix Future Program, which identifies and assists promising juniors to help them with both athletic and life skills as they pursue a career in professional sport. For more information, Pho3nix Future Camp