Two Team South Africa gold medallists from Tokyo 2020 are amongst the three nominees for the prestigious Sports Star of the Year, announced by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture on Saturday.
The theme of the 15th edition of the South African Sports Awards is Celebrating Sporting Excellence in the Year of Mama Charlotte Maxeke. The recognition event will be held on Saturday 12 March 2022 at the Durban ICC.
Both swimming gold medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Tatjana Schoenmaker, and the double gold medallist from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Ntando Mahlangu, are on the shortlist of three for Sports Star of the Year, along with Springbok World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi.
There are 16 categories, which include the People’s Choice Sports Star of the Year, which is a vote open to the public. Here, Schoenmaker, Mahlangu and Kolisi will again be in contention, along with Team SA silver medallist for Tokyo 2020, Bianca Buitendag, and motorcycling’s Brad Binder.
Over and above the recognition of athletes, the upcoming recognition event will also afford the Minister an opportunity to grant special recognition known as the Shield Of Jove to athletes who have achieved extraordinary excellence.
The president of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC), Mr Barry Hendricks, paid tribute to all the nominees. “Congratulations to all those who have been nominated for such a prestigious award.
“Sport for the past two years, like so much else in society, was severely disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, but it is testimony to the dedication, talent and sheer hard work from those in all spheres of our sport who ensured that as South Africans we can hold our heads high.
“It’s a special well done, thank you and congratulations for all you have achieved. The stellar cast of nominations shows how deep the reservoir of sporting talent in South Africa is. I wish you all the very best and also would like to send appreciation to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture for facilitating such an occasion,” Mr Hendricks said.
The categories and nominees are:
Sport Administrator of the Year
Ndumiso Njabulo Nyawose, Cornelia Swanepoel, Anne Vermaak
Indigenous Games Team of the Year
Gauteng, KZN, Western Cape
Sportsman of the Year
Greg Minnaar (cycling), Matthew Sates (swimming), Makazola Mapimpi (rugby)
National Federation of the Year
SASAPD, Surfing, South African Rugby Union
Sportsman of the Year with a Disability
Pieter du Preez, Ntando Mahlangu, Mpumelelo Mhlongo
Recreational Body of the Year
Local Surf Lounge Academy, Skateistan (Guateng), Fight With Insight (Gauteng),
Sportswoman of the Year
Tatjana Schoenmaker (swimming), Bianca Buitendag (surfing), Lizelle Lee (cricket)
Photographer of the Year
Roger Sedres, Frennie Shivambu, Reinhardt Hamman
Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability
Anrunè Liebenberg-Weyers, Louzanne Coetzee and Guides: Estean Badenhorst & Claus Kempen, Sheryl James
Journalist of the Year
Thabiso Mosia, Robert Marawa, Timothy Molobi
Team of the Year
Springboks, Proteas Netball, Mens 4×100 Relay (athletics)
Sports Star of the Year
Tatjana Schoenmaker (swimming), Ntando Mahlangu (para-athletics), Siya Kolisi (rugby)
Newcomer of the Year
Ronald Brown (rugby), Minè De Klerk (athletics), Janneman Malan (cricket)
People’s Choice Sports Star of the Year
Siya Kolisi (rugby), Ntando Mahlangu (para-athletics), Tatjana Schoenmaker (swimming), Bianca Buitendag (surfing), Brad Binder (motorcycling)
Coach of the Year
Neil Cornelius, Rassie Erasmus, Rocco Meiring
Volunteer of the Year
Jodie Ellinor Dreyer, Owen Gabaotswe, Renuka Ramroop