Voting is in full swing ahead of the 2024 Momentum gsport Awards and the different categories are all so highly competitive, indicating how much work has been put in by athletes, administrators, supporters and women in media.
We zoom in on arguably the toughest category that features three powerhouses that have put South Africa firmly on the map as a country to watch on any stage in sport. The Momentum Athlete of the Year features Proteas Women captain fantastic, Laura Wolvaardt, swimming superstar, Tatjana Smith, and SA’s judoka queen, Michaela Whitebooi.
These three amazing athletes have gone beyond just being dazzling professionals in their respective sporting codes, but have also inspired generations in a nation that has seen its fair share of major adversities being overcome globally.
Throughout her swimming career Tatjana Smith is no stranger to dominating the headlines and the past year has been no different. Leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics many were confident that she’ll get there and make history for Team South Africa and that is because she’s spoiled us as a country, getting us so accustomed to greatness, so we knew we could count on her to put us on the medal table.
But also it’s because her performances leading up to the extravaganza in France were tremendously inspiring.
SA’s golden girl became the first South African woman in history to win a world title after scooping gold in the women’s 200m breaststroke event at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan in July last year. Before that historic feat she took the 100m silver medal in a time of 1:05.84 at the same tournament.
In April of 2024 Smith (née Schoenmaker) produced her two best times in the 200m breaststroke at the SA National Swimming Championships at the Newton Park Swimming Pool, in Gqeberha.
The former world record holder in the event swam a sensational 2:19.92 in the heats and was even quicker in the final, storming to another national title in a time of 2:19.01.
The Proteas Women senior national squad has gone through a transition in the captaincy role from former skipper Dané van Niekerk, Suné Luus and the present incumbent, Western Province’s Laura Wolvaardt.
Captaincy is not easy in most sporting codes, and becomes somewhat of a balancing act, because your personal performances have to be at the highest level, while you simultaneously lead the team with dedication and conviction.
In a rare transition in sport, after being appointed as captain in all three formats of the game Wolvaardt has taken to the task in her stride. She moved into the top five of the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings early on in her tenure, after helping her team to a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second match of the ICC Women’s Championship series that took place in Kimberley.
At the start of the year 2024, she featured in the ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year. Only Australia’s Hayley Matthews made more runs than Wolvaardt’s 586 runs at an average of 45, as the star enjoyed the home T20 World Cup stage in 2023.
The Cape Town-born Wolvaardt also led the Proteas to a six-wicket victory in the second T20 International (T20I) against Australia, for South Africa’s first-ever win against Australia across all formats, levelling the three-match T20I series in Canberra on 28 January, 2024.
Wolvaardt dispatched six fours en route to 58* off 53 deliveries, which alongside Tazmin Brits’ 28-ball 41 allowed South Africa to successfully chase down Australia’s 142/6 in 20 overs, not forgetting the invaluable Masabata Klaas’ return of 2/16 with the ball.
Internationally in her personal professional capacity, Wolvaardt has set the world of domestic tournaments ablaze as well, notably being influential when the Adelaide Strikers beat Brisbane Heat in epic fashion to claim victory and secure back-to-back WBBL titles, at the Adelaide Oval in North Adelaide in South Australia, on Saturday 2 December 2023.
Wolvaardt showed why she is such a remarkable player on the big stage.
There’s no doubt or question about the love South Africans have for sport, though we can admit that some sporting codes enjoy more support than others.
Now despite the lack of media coverage, sponsorship opportunities, adequate support from government and citizens, Michaela Whitebooi has taken all she has at her disposal and made a successful career in Judo.
She’s shown that South Africans are not just great at Rugby, Football and Swimming but there’s more to this beautiful rainbow nation.
Whitebooi claimed the silver medal in the 48kg category at the Africa Judo Open, that was held in Marrakech, Morocco, on Sunday, 2 June, 2024. At the same tournament, South Africa finished 10th owing to points earned by Whitebooi and compatriot Skye Knoester.
Months before that in Cameroon the sensational Judoka secured gold in her category.
With these formidable women, it is tough to predict who will walk away with the coveted gsport gong, but we are certain that all three are deserving.
Photo Caption: Competitive doesn’t even begin to describe the 2024 Momentum gsport Awards categories. Arguably one of the toughest sees Laura Wolvaardt, Tatjana Smith and Michaela Whitebooi battle for Momentum Athlete of the Year. Graphic: gsport
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