Semenya Dominates Once Again

Caster Semenya is making a habit of winning on the gsport Awards stage, bagging her fourth SRSA gsport Athlete of the Year title at the 13th edition of the country’s longest running women’s sport awards.

Semenya, who also won Woman of the Year, was not on hand to receive the double accolade due to international competition, and asked Banyana Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis, to thank the public for their support, as she committed to keep representing South Africa with pride.

Fellow Commonwealth Games double gold medallist, Tatjana Schoenmaker, was also a big winner on the night, winning the Sasol Emerging Athlete of the Year while seasoned Paralympian, Zanele Situ, won Athlete of the Year with Disability.

Rising athlete, Gontse Morake walked away with School Sports Star of the Year presented by Gauteng Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, 

2017 Cricket World Cup semi-finalists, Momentum Proteas, bagged Team of the Year presented by Big Five Duty Free.

Glamorous SABC Sport broadcaster, Vaylen Kirtley, won the Estee Lauder Style Star of the Year. 

Last year’s Woman of the Year, Mpho Makhoba, was also a double winner, taking home Special Recognition and Volunteer of the Year for her sterling efforts to raise the profile of women’s tennis in South Africa. 

Travelling Momentum Proteas supporter, Shannon Landman-Kriel, was rewarded for her passion as a fan when she won Supporter of the Year. 

Dedicated golf PR practitioner, Lali Stander, won the inaugural Woman in PR and Sponsorship award. 

Leading SABC Sport anchor, Lebo Motsoeli defended her crown, once again winning Woman in TV. 

Channel Africa’s Rachel Makhura was also a repeat winner in the Woman in Radio category while Frennie Shivambu, became the first photographer to win at the gsport Awards, taking home the Woman in Print award. 

Sports activist and publisher, Cheryl Roberts, defended her Woman in Social Media title. 

Long-time softball volunteer, Thelma Achilles, was inducted into the gsport Hall of Fame, for over 40 years of dedicated sports volunteerism.

Women’s hockey sponsor, Private Property, were crowned Sponsor of the Year while Golf RSA was named Federation of the Year, both for their ongoing efforts to raise the profile of women’s sport. 

Champion disability sport coach, Karin le Roux, won the gsport Coach of the Year award. 

2017 SPAR Grand Prix winner, Kesa Molotsane, won the gsport Public Choice Award, after securing the public vote.

The evening concluded with Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa, Tokozile Xasa, honouring formidable women in sport in five Ministerial Recognition Awards.

The recipients were Rikenette Steenkamp, Saray Khumalo, Palesa Manaleng, Mbali Zantsi and Blanche Moila.

Recognised for excellence in sport in celebration of the Albertina Sisulu Centenary were five Special Recognition Awards received by Zanele Situ, Anrune Liebenberg, Kgothatso Montjane, Louzanne Coetzee and Natalie du Toit.

The gsport Awards is a partnership between the gsport Trust and SRSA, supported by M-Sports Marketing, TSO Productions, Vision View, Gauteng Sport, Sasol, SABC Foundation, Estee Lauder, Big Five Duty Free, WorldWide Sports, Nyapotse Inc, SAB&T Nexia and Red Bull.  

Winners at the 2018 gsport Awards:

Photo 1 caption: 2018 gsport Awards winners take in the moment at the conclusion of the night’s broadcast in which champions of women’s sport in SA were recognized for outstanding work driving the movement forward. Photo: M-Sports Marketing