Retired swimmer Tatjana Smith was the biggest winner at the South African Sport Awards at Sun City in Rustenburg, North West, on Sunday evening.
Apart from bagging the Sportwoman of the Year award, Tatiana walked away with the biggest prize – the Sport Star of the Year gong ahead of sprinter Akani Simbine and Paralympics champion Mpumelelo Mhlongo.
The 28-year-old Smith returned home with gold and silver medals from the Paris Olympics in France last year. This was after she won the women’s 100m breaststroke and came second in the 200m breaststroke at the Paris la Defence Arena pool.
Smith was also the recipient of the Minister’s Excellence Award together with Bayanda Walaza (Athletics), Vuyisile Jaca (Sailing), Gerda Steyn (Athletics), Tete Dijana (Athletics) and Rassie Erasmus (Rugby).
Meanwhile, the recipients of the Steve Tshwete Lifetime Achievement Award were Zola Budd-Pieterse (Athletics), Louis Massyn (Athletics-Comrades), Desire Wilson (Motorsport-F1) and Josiah Thugwane (Athletics).
The recipients of the Andrew Mlangeni Green Jacket Award are Bruce Fordyce, Peter Manero Ngobeni, Norman Hlabane, Johannes Mosehla and Errol Tobias.
All the winners:
Sport Administrator of the Year
Pholetsi Moseki (Cricket)
Recreation Body of the Year
Made for More Zama (Para Surfing)
Sport Volunteer of the Year
Phuti Donald Lekoloane (Football)
Youth/Junior Sport Star of the Year
Simoné Kruger (Para Athletics)
Youth/Junior Sport Team of the Year
SA Under-19 Tug of War Men’s Team (Tug of War)
Sport Visual Journalist of the Year
Roger Sedres
Sport Media Journalist of the Year
Palesa Manaleng
Technical Official of the Year
Ernesta Strydom (Para Cycling)
National Federation of the Year
South African Rugby Union (Rugby)
Sport Team of the Year
4x100m Men’s Team (Paris Olympics)
Coach of the Year
Rocco Meiring (Swimming)
Sportwoman of the Year with a Disability
Simoné Kruger (Para Athletics)
Sportman of the Year with a Disability
Mpumelelo Mhlongo (Para Athletics)
Sportwoman of the Year
Tatjana Smith (Swimming)
Sportman of the Year
Alan Hartherly (Cycling)
Sport Star of the Year
Tatjana Smith (Swimming)
