The gsport Trust has officially unveiled the highly anticipated finalists for the 21st annual gsport Awards (#gsport21), celebrating an extraordinary year of historic breakthroughs, record-shattering performances and commercial revolutions across South African women’s sport.
Following a gruelling selection process from nearly 475 nominations received from the public, an esteemed independent panel of judges has finalised the shortlists.
The elite panel consists of iconic gsport Hall of Famers Hazel Gumede, Jane Bramley and Cynthia Tshaka, alongside celebrated former winners Mapaseka Makhanya and Phumelela Hlophe.
The year under review (30 June 2025 to 31 May 2026) has produced unprecedented excellence, from teenagers dismantling decades-old motorsport barriers to national teams capturing the hearts of the continent.
The Athlete of the Year category features an elite trio who have dominated the global stage. Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt is shortlisted after anchoring South Africa’s historic World Cup Final run and smashing a record- breaking 47-ball T20I century against India.
She faces fierce competition from swimming powerhouse Lara van Niekerk, who secured a legendary “golden hat-trick” of national breaststroke titles in April 2026, and track sensation Prudence Sekgodiso, currently ranked World No. 7 in the 800m.
The Team of the Year category will be equally contested. The Proteas Women are shortlisted alongside the SA Women’s Rugby 15s, who went undefeated to claim the 2026 Africa Cup under Swys de Bruin. Joining them is the Athletics SA Sprint Team, who shattered a 26-year-old national 4x100m record at the May 2026 World Athletics Relays.
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The Emerging Athlete of the Year category shines a spotlight on the country’s bright future, headlined by DHL Western Province rugby sensation Abigail Smit. The towering 20-year-old lock is shortlisted following a senior national call-up, officially making her international Test debut for the Springbok Women during the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Nairobi.
South Africa’s schoolgirl icons take centre stage in the School Sports Star of the Year category. The finalists shortlisted include 16-year-old motorsport prodigy Chloe Stuart, the first woman in 50 years to win a Formula V series title; 17-year-old Mamelodi Sundowns professional and dual-national youth captain Katleho Malebana; and 14-year-old cricket sensation Ziya Mohanlall.
In the Para Sport Star of the Year category, world champion discus thrower Simoné Kruger is shortlisted alongside swimming sensation Alani Ferreira and sprinter Liezl Gouws, both of whom rewrote the record books at the April 2026 National Championships.
Off the field, the awards recognise the strategic forces transforming the sporting landscape. Cricket South Africa, SAFA and SA Rugby are the finalists shortlisted for Federation of the Year, each celebrated for breaking corporate barriers and accelerating professional women’s sport structures.
Their efforts are backed by corporate visionaries Bidvest, Hollywoodbets and Radar Tyres, who are vying for Sponsor of the Year.
The unsung heroes of sport are honoured in the Volunteer of the Year category, featuring shortlisted youth mentor Acelia Estherhuizen, Mamelodi rugby pillar Jennifer Modiba and lifesaving veteran Jill Fortuin, who has dedicated over 35 years to water safety transformation.
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Meanwhile, the power of media representation is spotlighted in the Woman in Radio category, with broadcasters Ester N. Baatjies, Oarabile Diphoko and Lonwabo Miso successfully making the final shortlist.
Finalists of the 2026 gsport Awards
Athlete of the Year
Lara van Niekerk
Laura Wolvaardt
Prudence Sekgodiso
Emerging Athlete of the Year
Abigail Smit
Jessica Thompson
Joviale Mbisha
Para Sport Star of the Year
Alani Ferreira
Liezl Gouws
Simoné Kruger
School Sports Star of the Year
Chloe Stuart
Katleho Malebana
Ziya Mohanlall
Team of the Year
Athletics SA
Proteas Women
Springbok Women
Coach of the Year
Jenny van Dyk
Mandla Mashimbyi
Swys de Bruin
Federation of the Year
Cricket South Africa
South African Football Association
South African Rugby
Woman of the Year
Buhle Vaphi
Colleen McAusland
Luitha Roux
African Woman in Sport
Anathi Qolo
Collete Uys
Simangele Hadebe
Global Woman in Sport
Bongiwe Msomi
Debbie Alexander
Lauren Agenbag
Woman in Radio
Ester Baatjies
Oarabile Diphoko
Lonwabo Miso
Woman in Television
Candice Naidoo
Hlobisile Khumalo
Lonwabo Miso
Woman in Print
Bilqees Watson
Cecilia van Bers
Potso Aphane
Woman in Social Media
Akhona Nongauza
Robin Waddacor
Stephanie Mawdsley
Sponsor of the Year
Bidvest
Hollywoodbets
Radar Tyres
Woman in PR and Sponsorship
Monya Greyvenstein
Tswelopele Mohapi
Shahnaaz Pailwan
Style Star of the Year
Mariska Venter
Nonkululeko Mlaba
Prudence Sekgodiso
Volunteer of the Year
Acelia Estherhuizen
Jennifer Modiba
Jill Fortuin
Supporter of the Year
Lunga Ntuli
Tshepiso Mkhize
Prabashnee Naidoo
Special Recognition
Nokuthula Mnyani
Sandra Almeida
Sue Abbott
Main Photo Caption: The gsport Trust has unveiled the finalists for the 21st annual gsport Awards, celebrating standout achievement across South African women’s and girls’ sport, in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 1 July, 2026. Photo: gsport
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