Excitement is in the air as we are less than a month away from women in sport owning their success on the 2023 Momentum gsport Awards red carpet.
On Wednesday, 9 August, nominations for Africa’s longest running women’s sport recognition closed, with over 600 nominations submitted.
During the next phase, gsport’s esteemed panel of judges will consider the nominations, and will provide an audited list of three Finalists per Awards Category eligible for Public Voting.
Finalists will be announced on 22 August when a 10-day public voting period will commence until 31 August.
In the build-up to the announcement of finalists, we reflect on how the power of being recognised on the gsport stage means to women in sport and how it has edged them to break down barriers within the sport industry.
In 2021, leading sport administrator Patience Shikwambana, was honoured with the Ministerial Recognition of Excellence award for her outstanding contributions taking South African sport to the world.
Over the years, Shikwambana has earned the role of “the caring mother of Team SA” and she’s popular, both with athletes and with team management and support staff. She’s got a wealth of experience and a calm leadership quality about her.
Previously speaking to gsport after her recognition, Shikwambana said: “Such recognition is a clear sign from the universe that one should not give up even in your lowest trying times. I remained principled and consistent to what I believe in and no one will change that except me.
“It was a reminder to oneself that “You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.”
True to form, Shikwambana remained focused and consistent, which saw her recently head up the 2023 Netball World Cup Board as Chairperson.
As the feel-good stories continue to flock in year in and year out after every awards season, 2021 and 2022 Woman in Radio Award winner, Cato Louw, has asserted herself as one of the prominent female faces in Radio as well as a Rugby anchor.
Louw epitomises the Power of Recognition, her career as a broadcaster has seen immense growth over the past years.
“For me it literally means, that someone is seeing me and the work I’m doing and that is powerful. People can go their entire careers and not be recognized and acknowledged, so giving that power through recognition means more than you know.
“It means a lot because as we know there is still a lot of work to be done to keep female voices growing in the industry and it’s still not the ‘norm’ to have a female sports anchor – so getting that recognition always fuels me and keeps the fire burning to keep amplifying not only my voice but that of women in sport.”
Last but not least, SuperSport Anchor Julia Stuart was honoured with the SuperSport Woman in TV accolade at the 2021 Momentum gsport Awards, a year later, she went on to host the prestigious women’s sport recognition event.
The presenter expressed what it meant to her to be recognised on the gsport stage as it forced her to take a moment to celebrate herself and her journey thus far.
“We don’t stop and acknowledge. As women in general we move from one thing to the next. We always chasing our next achievement. The biggest gain for me was honestly a personal one where I had to stop and say to myself ‘Well Done’.”
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