Young South African athletes and para-athletes are joining forces and gearing up for this year’s 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games overseas! Meet the team set to make us proud:
South Africa (05 July, 2023) — On the tail-end of a very successful Special Olympics season for Team South Africa, we’re about to turn the page on another exciting chapter for sport with the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games just on the horizon.
Lucky Number 49!
Following the 49 medal wins our Special Olympics team brought home, 49 exceptional young athletes have just been announced as our flag bearers for the upcoming Games in Trinidad and Tobago.
This year’s Commonwealth Youth Games will see over 1000 athletes and para-athletes between 14 and 18 join forces and compete in an array of sports. Team South Africa will represent us in netball, rugby sevens, cycling, volleyball, swimming and the triathlon.
Beyond representing South Africa, the Games also serve as a ‘testing ground’ for budding talents as The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee’s (SASCOC) President Barry Hendricks shares.
“The 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games are significant to us as we embark on the road to LA 2028. Some of the athletes announced today will be developed to qualify for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Australia and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in LA. Some of our esteemed sporting names have passed through the Commonwealth Youth Games. Therefore, we urge the athletes to perform at their best and make the country proud,” added SASCOC CEO Nozipho Jafta.
Meet the Athletes
Swimming
- Jessica Leigh Thompson
- Simone Shilon Moll
- Cassidy Burgess
- Kian Craig Keylock
- Kris Stefano Mihaylov
- Jarden Dylan Eaton
Athletics
- Colene Catherine Scheepers
- Alicia Eli Khunou
- Tumi Hope Ramokgopa
- Anli Lo-Ann Engelbrecht
- Temoso Masikane
- Hencu Johann Lamberts
- Willem Schalk Jacobus Jansen
Para-Athletics
- Sharety Ziyanda Mahlangu
- Hlelo Modise
- Daniel Tumiso Molobela
- Yamkela Lukhanyo Ntlanti
Beach Volleyball
- Deloshen Valaitham
- Jayden Christiano Cupido
Cycling
- Ethan Garth Kulsen
- Anya Du Plessis
- Miles Bailey Liebenberg
- Jessie Munton
Netball
- Kadijat Kubura Hope Abubakar
- Jade Morgan Atkins
- Ametisse Bakenga Bandu
- Maria Magaritha Du Raan
- Amone Wessels
- Thato Nkanyezi Legodi
- Zahrah Noah
- Luane Smith
- Kiara Van Eeden
- Karla Maria Victor
Rugby Sevens
- Siyanda Nkosi
- Stephanus Lourens Linde
- Jeffwin Olyde Wesso
- Luann Olivier
- James Carleihle Emraan Nero
- Thandolwami Hopewell Ntshangase
- Gino Gordon Cupido
- Siyabonga Lucky Ndlozi
- Lavela Xhanti Pongolo
- Bernardo Maxwill Diedericks
- Samuel Sunnyskies Adriaan Badenhorst
- Luan Giliomee
- Marno Gray Stopforth
Triathlon
- Kadence Ribbink
- Alessandro Michele Fanicchi
- Angel Magdalene Geel
The Commonwealth Youth Games will take place from 4-11 August.
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