South African road running legend Blanche Moila has been inducted in the gsport Hall of Fame for 2023. Moila was honoured and celebrated at a luncheon in a prestigious event in Sandton that was attended by former inductees, #gsport18 finalists and previous and current winners.
The phenomenal Moila is a trailblazer who ran during the apartheid years, breaking down racial barriers in the 1980s, a feat that has inspired generations on the track and in sport in general in South Africa.
In 1984, Moila was awarded Springbok colours, making her the first among black South African woman to achieve the distinction of representing the country. She grew up in the old Northern Transvaal, known today as Polokwane, she has broken barriers and stigma’s often attached to black, female athletes. Her tenacious attitude has seen her amass an endless list of achievements such as participating in 17 Comrades Marathons.
She has held national titles and records over various distances and has received many awards for her achievements as an athlete.
The running icon has been turning heads in her distinctive white turban while etching her name in our history books. As a result, the former Senior Psychiatric Nurse, for almost 40 years has had Nike see value in her prowess and put the iconic swoosh on her headgear. She has always been visible on the streets of Durban spotting her iconic look and while other apparel brands didn’t see much value in her, Nike did, and that’s why she is still so loyal to the brand.
For many years, up to this day, she’s been at the forefront of advancing women’s sport. Along with that, she travels to various schools for motivational talks to young girls.
In attendance from the Hall of Fame inductees included the first ever to be honoured with the accolade, swimming icon and Olympic gold medallist Penny Heyns, Netball phenomenon Hazel Gumede, long-distance running legend and Olympic silver medallist, Elana Van Zyl Meyer, Banyana Banyana’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations winning coach Desiree Ellis, Athletics custodian Motlatsi Keikabile, rugby pioneer Dorothy Tsotsobe, Softball Umpire and custodian Thelma Achilles, Netball pioneer Dudu Msane and veteran sports journalist, Jane Bramley and Tinky Pringle a pioneering anchor who was the first woman broadcaster at SuperSport.
The room was not only filled with the gorgeous legends that paved the way, young prodigies and 2023 Momentum gsport Awards finalists were also in attendance including DP WORLD African Woman in Sport award is FIFA-accredited referee, Akhona Makalima, Women in TV finalist Vusiwe Ngcobo, Double gold Commonwealth Youth Games winner, Alicia Khunou who is contesting for the SuperSport School Sports Star of the Year.
Deputy Minister of Sport Arts and Culture Nocawe Mafu had an amazing message for the young people in the room who were surrounded by veterans, “They became the trailblazers on your behalf, so that when you arrive it’s easier. This is your inheritance. Don’t drop the ball.
The gsport Hall of Fame has since inducted 16 other iconic figures who have paved the way for the current generation of female athletes.
Photo 1 Caption: South African road running legend Blanche Moila inducted into the gsport Hall of Fame in Sandton on Tuesday, 5 September 2023. Photo: gsport
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