By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Double Olympic swimming medallist Tatjana Schoenmaker and Springbok rugby captain Siya Kolisi were the big winners at the 15th SA Sport Awards at a glittering ceremony at the Durban ICC on Saturday night.
The theme of this edition of the Awards was Celebrating Sporting Excellence in the Year of Mama Charlotte Maxeke.
The 24-year-old Schoenmaker, who bagged a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke at the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan, beat strong competition in both categories.
Schoenmaker won the Sportswoman of the Year award and the big one of the night, the overall Sports Star of the Year. In addition the 24-year-old was one of three recipients of the Shield Of Jove.
“This doesnt’ feel real,” she said when winning the Sports Star Of The Year award. “Everyone is a winner. This is dedicated to every athlete out there who perseveres. I always say that a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer. You must love your sport because you are allowed to do it.
Earlier, when accepting the Sportswoman of the Year award, Schoenmaker said: “What an honour. I always get the question, ‘how much does my team contribute to my success?’ Well, my team everyone is everyone supporting me and who has my back. So, it’s an easy question to answer. They are my success.
The ever popular Kolisi was also amongst the gongs. First he accepted the award on behalf of the SA Rugby Union for Federation of the Year, before he was named the People’s Choice Sports Star Of The Year, a result of the public vote.
The other major winner on the night at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban was Springbok winger Makazole Mapimpi who was named the Sportsman of the Year.
During the period athletes were judged on, Mapimpi helped the Springboks to the World Cup title in Japan with a win over England and a hard-fought 2-1 series win over the British and Irish Lions.
In other categories, Pieter du Preez, who won a gold medal in the men’s H1 cycling time trial at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, was named Sportsman of the Year with a Disability.
Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability went to Anruné Liebenberg-Weyers who won gold in the women’s 400m (T47) at the Paralympics while shot put and discus thrower 18-year-old de Klerk was named Newcomer of the Year.
Elsewhere, Rassie Erasmus was named Coach of the Year, the Springboks the Team of the Year, SA Rugby the National Federation of the Year and Local Surf Lounge Academy from Cape Town the Recreation Body of the Year.