As we celebrate International Day of the Girl Child, our #gsportTop10 list shines the spotlight on a crop of young, South African sporting stars who are flying the country’s flag on the international stage.
The impressive list includes an array of athletes across various sporting codes ranging from athletics, canoeing, cricket, discus, football, golf, netball, para-sport, shotput and squash.
All recipients have set impeccable milestones in their respective careers and have all pushed the boundaries to continue paving the way for the next generation.
Scroll down to check out which of South Africa’s young stars feature on the list!
Top 10 Young Stars Making Headlines Globally in 2022:
Aliyaah Allie – Football
Rising football star, Allie, made headlines when she signed her first international contract with Scottish side Glasgow City FC. The South African was previously part of the JVW Girls Football Club Academy in Johannesburg.
Awande Malinga – Squash
At 17, Malinga has dominated the squash court and is currently South Africa’s junior squash champion. On her list of achievements, Malinga previously scooped the 2020 Public Choice Award at the Momentum gsport Awards and has represented the country in global tournaments including this year’s Women’s World Junior Individual Squash Championships in France.
Awande Malinga Crowned Growthpoint South Africa Junior Squash Champion
Caitlyn Macnab – Golf
In August 2021, Golf South Africa’s national squad member Caitlyn Macnab took a huge step in her career as she joined Texas Christian University. Since her move, Macnab has gone on to rise on the global stage, recently earning her first collegiate win in the season opening Schooner Fall Classic.
Laura Wolvaardt – Cricket
Momentum Proteas’ star batter, Wolvaardt, has been impressive for both club and country as she continues to improve on her performances. At the recent The Hundred campaign, Wolvaardt concluded the tournament as the leading run-scorer as she topped the charts playing for Northern Super Chargers.
Lesedi Khunou – Discus
2022 Momentum gsport Awards’ SuperSport School Sports Star of the Year winner Lesedi Khunou is captain of the Hoërskool Menlopark High School Girls. She claimed gold in the Girls U/19 discus and was placed second in the shotput leading her team to victory at the Super School Series.
Miné de Klerk – Shotput
At the 2022 World Athletics Championships, de Klerk successfully defended her U20 shotput title and was the only participant to clear the 17m line. At the Championships, she went on to claim another accolade, earning bronze in the discus throw.
Miné de Klerk Wins Second Medal at U20 World Athletics Champs
Simoné Kruger – Para Sport
Para sport star, Kruger, broke the Discus Women F38 African record at the 2022 ASA Grand Prix Series 4 Meeting, after her outstanding exploits at the Toyota SASAPD Championships where she broke the SA and African records in the Discus for Women F38. She also went on to smash the SA and African record, as well as a new PB in the Shot-Put Women F38 category.
Saskia Hockly – Canoeing
Canoeing South Africa’s Saskia Hockly has been making her mark on the international scene recently as she earned a second successive Junior Women’s K1 bronze medal at the 2022 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships and went on to grab silver in the Junior Women’s K2 U18 race alongside her sister, Valma-Jean. Days later at the ICF Ocean Racing World Championships, Hockly claimed first prize in the junior race.
Saskia Hockly Grabs Bronze on Opening Day of ICF Marathon World Champs
Tumi Mahloko – Netball
Rising netball star Tumi Mahloko is making strides in her career both on and off the court. Mahloko was part of the Spar Proteas team that claimed a 2-0 series victory over Wales ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. At the 2022 Momentum gsport Awards, she was a finalist in the Style Star of the Year category as she was celebrated for her off-court fashion sense. Mahloko also has the Telkom Netball League title on her list of achievements as the Golden Fireballs team bagged the 2022 title.
Viwe Jingqi – Athletics
In 2022, Viwe Jingqi stormed into athletics history books when she broke the South African U18 100m record three times in less than seven hours at the South African Junior and Youth Athletics Championships in Potchefstroom.
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