The Gauteng Sports Awards were a night to remember! Our local heroes, like the golden girl Tatjana Smith and the speedy Bayanda Walaza, were celebrated for their incredible achievements and showered with accolades.
Johannesburg, South Africa (28 November 2024) – The 13th edition of the annual Gauteng Sports Awards were a celebration of athletic excellence, with Paralympians and Olympians taking centre stage.
Held over the weekend at the University of Johannesburg, the awards were held under the theme ‘Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring the Youth’.
The star-studded event recognised and honoured Gauteng-based athletes for their brilliance in their respective disciplines and international achievements and for living up to Gauteng being the ‘Home of Champions’.
A national treasure, Tatjana Smith was a big winner at the Gauteng Sports Awards, being crowned Sportswoman of the Year and taking home over R350,000 in prize money.
The Olympic swimmer competed in the 100m breaststroke and the 200m breaststroke at the Paris Olympics winning a gold medal in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:05.00 and a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:19.01.
Rising athlete Bayanda Walaza was named Sportsman of the Year after his heroic role in the silver medal-winning 4x100m relay team at the Paris Olympics.
Paralympic discus gold medallist, Simone Kruger was awarded Sportswoman with a Disability and Rocco Meiring was honoured as Coach of the Year for his exceptional contributions to South African swimming.
Akani Simbine, Shaun Maswanganyi, Bradley Nkoana, Simoné Kruger, Pieter Du Preez, Donald Ramaphadi and Lucas Sithole were also presented with special cash incentives for winning medals at the Olympics courtesy of the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
It was a night of celebration, inspiration, and pure sporting excellence. We’re so proud of these incredible athletes for flying the South African flag high and continuing to inspire us all!
Sources: Gauteng Sport Awards/ Team South Africa
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