SA SPORTS AWARDS WINNERS

Local sport stars took centre stage on Saturday at the SA Sports Awards held in Durban.

Swimmer Tatjana Schoenmaker was awarded for her gold and silver medals in the 200 meters and 100-meter breaststroke at the Tokyo Olympic Games. She won Sportswoman of the Year and the overall Sports Star of the Year as well.

Sportsman of the Year was awarded to the Springbok Makazole Mapimpi while his team, the Springboks, was awarded the Team of the Year award. Their coach who led them to World Cup victory, Rassie Erasmus, was named Coach of the Year.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi accepted the award for Federation of the Year on behalf of the SA Rugby Union.

Kolisi was also awarded with the People’s Choice Sports Star of the Year, an award for which the public voted.

“It’s always awkward getting an individual award when playing a team sport, but thank you to all my coaches and teammates and to all who support me.”

During his acceptance speech he also highlighted the lack of gender equality in South African sport.

“Now, to all the men: Let’s talk about gender equality in sport. We (men) get all the money, but the women work as hard as we do. If we don’t speak up about it nothing will change. We (men) must use our platform to speak up for women.”

Other winners include Pieter du Preez for Sportsman of the Year With A Disability and Anrune Liebenberg-Weyers for Sportswoman of the Year With A Disability.

Image credit: YouTube