This week, the gsport community has been buzzing as we unveiled our 10 Newsmakers at the gsport Annual List event in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 15 December 2020.
The second #GAL event turned out to be a success as we honoured women in sport who dominated headlines in an unprecedented year, to the delight of Deputy Sports Minister, Nocawe Mafu.
“In the most difficult year that we have had, we have triumphed. You (the newsmakers) are here now being awarded.
“Women in sport in South Africa during a year of a pandemic have come out on top and we really appreciate all your efforts.
“Our athletes made us forget a little bit about the pandemic and focus on the achievements.” – Deputy Sports Minister, Nocawe Mafu
“Our athletes made us forget a little bit about the pandemic and focus on the achievements.”
Overall Newsmaker of the Year, Karla Pretorius, made a special appearance as she returned to South Africa after a spectacular season in the Suncorp Netball League in Australia.
“Firstly, it is a great honour to be here. For myself, competing abroad to being invited and noticed at events such as these is incredible.
“I am grateful to be part of this.”
“The work gsport is doing to show the world what we as athletes are doing locally and abroad is really opening up opportunities.” – Global Netball star, Karla Pretorius.
Pretorius lauded gsport, saying: “The work gsport is doing to show the world what we as athletes are doing locally and abroad is really opening up opportunities for us and giving us a platform to share our successes.”
“Thank you to gsport for honouring and supporting us. We have so many newsmakers in South Africa in terms of women’s sport, so it is a great honour to be recognized, especially as an overall newsmaker in the country.”
Joining Pretorius on the list, South Africa’s 10km cross-country, 10km road running and half-marathon champion, Glenrose Xaba, smiled as she chatted about defeating the odds to end the year on a high.
“I’m happy because it is my first time being part of a gsport event.” – South Africa’s long-distance runner, Glenrose Xaba.
“I’m happy because it is my first time being part of a gsport event. It means a lot to me to be recognised.”
Since the return of sport, Xaba recorded a personal best in the World Half Marathon this October. “I had a lot of support around me from my Manager, Boxer Running Club, Caster (Semenya) and family.
“They encouraged me to never give up and that is why I have been able to achieve during a difficult time for all runners,” Xaba concluded.
The #GAL2020 list also included the likes of South Africa’s leading women’s wheelchair tennis star, KG Montjane, who played in her first Australian Open semi-final earlier this year, and also went on to become the most decorated sportswoman on the gsport Awards stage, winning her fourth Athlete with Disability title.
Also acknowledged was financial services provider, Momentum, who stood by women in sport through a pandemic-hit year. Momentum renewed its sponsorship of the Proteas Women’s team, and allowed women in sport to boldly own their success with its whole-hearted support of the Momentum gsport Awards.
FULL LIST OF #GAL2020 NEWSMAKERS:
Banyana Banyana
Department of Sport, Arts & Culture
Desiree Ellis
Glenrose Xaba
Karla Pretorius
KG Montjane
Laura Wolvaardt
Michaela Whitebooi
Momentum
Shabnim Ismail
Photo 1 Caption: Deputy Sports Minister, Nocawe Mafu, pictured at the 2020 gsport Annual List event as gsport honoured newsmakers of the year at a special lunch in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 15 December 2020. Photo: Nokuthula Mbatha/gsport
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