Honours for Natalie and Jessica

Teenage swimming sensation Jessica Pengelly (left) and Cameron van der Burgh were honoured with the ‘Most Promising Athlete of the Year’ awards in the respective male and female categories, at Swimming SA’s Annual Aquatics Awards evening held at Emperors Palace outside Johannesburg, on Saturday evening.

Cape Town-based teenage swimming sensation Jessica Pengelly won the female category in the ‘Most Promising Athlete of the Year’ award, as athletes, coaches and officials were honoured at Swimming SA’s Annual Aquatics Awards at Emperors Palace on the East Rand on Saturday evening.

Natalie du Toit, winner of the 2007 Disabled Athlete of the Year Award, also featured as a finalist in the ‘Personality of the Year’ category won by national swimming captain Gerhard Zandberg, world champion in the 50 metres backstroke. 

Multiple world record-holder Natalie du Toit shows off her ‘Disabled Athlete of the Year’ award.

Other female award recipients on the night include Penny Quinlan and Pamela Reynecke (Learn to Swim Instructor awards), Coach of the Year award winner Santa van Jaarsveld, and the Synchronised Swimmer of the Year, Judy van Niekerk.

 
"I wish to congratulate tonight’s winners on their achievements," said Swimming SA President Mr Jace Naidoo. "The performances taken into account [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][were] for the period of 30 April 2006 to 1 May 2007.

"Just as important is our Learn to Swim programme, through which Swimming SA has embarked on an aggressive approach that all children in our country should be able to swim by 2014," added Mr Naidoo.

"Drowning is an unnecessary form of death, and every life saved could be that of a future potential Olympic athlete or potential Olympic medallist. Based on this, we are pleased to honour our Learn to Swim instructors here this evening."

Swimming SA head coach Dirk Lange said: "Swimming SA’s vision to implement a team strategy built around its national squad, has the potential to bear results in the build up to the 2012 Olympics and beyond.

An event of the calibre of Swimming SA’s Annual Aquatics Awards is a vital platform for the athletes’ feats to be recognised and honoured by those involved with aquatics in this country."

The opening leg of the FINA/Arena Swimming World Cup is to be held at the Kings Park Aquatics Centre in Durban on October 19-20. "We look forward to witnessing our swimmers striving to give of their best in front of their home fans against a class foreign challenge," said Mr Naidoo.

Women Winners at the 2006 Swimming SA Annual Aquatics Awards:

Learn to Swim Instructor Awards: Penny Quinlan and Pamela Reynecke

Coach of the Year: Santa van Jaarsveld

Most Promising Female Athlete of the Year: Jessica Pengelly

Disabled Athlete of the Year: Natalie du Toit

Synchronised Swimmer of the Year: Judy van Niekerk

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