Olympic 200m breaststroke champion and record holder Tatjana Schoenmaker went into the 15th SA Sport Awards (SASA) as a clear favourite with multiple nominations. Much like her performance in the pool the Under Armour athlete didn’t disappoint bagging a total of 3 awards on the night including the coveted Sports Star and Sportswoman of the Year awards.
SA athletes and officials, who excelled on the international stage were honoured in the ceremony on Saturday, 12 March at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC). This year’s awards covered 16 categories that included Sport Star of the Year and People’s Choice Athlete of the Year awards.
After winning Sportswoman of the Year, Schoenmaker said: “What an honour. I always get the question, ‘how much does my team contribute to my success?’ Well, my team everyone is everyone supporting me and who has my back. So, it’s an easy question to answer. They are my success. Everyone is a winner. This is dedicated to every athlete out there who perseveres. I always say that a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer. You must love your sport because you are allowed to do it.”
The other major winners on the night included Springbok winger Makazole Mapimpi who was named the Sportsman of the Year, Rassie Erasmus was named Coach of the Year, the Springboks the Team of the Year while People’s Choice Sports Star of the Year went to Siya Kolisi. Schoenmaker was also one of three winners of the Shield Of Jove award, with fellow Under Armour athlete Ntando Mahlangu and Bianca Buitendag.
Under Armour GM Darren Cooke says, “We are extremely proud of both Schoenmaker and Mahlangu, what a remarkable night for both. They have showed tremendous tenacity to achieve what they have over the last year. We are honoured to have them on the UA team and look forward to watching them achieve even greater things in the years to come”.
Full List of Award Winners
- Sports Star of the Year: Tatjana Schoenmaker
- Sportsman of the Year: Makazole Mapimpi
- Sportswomen of the Year : Tatjana Schoenmaker
- Coach of the Year: Rassie Erasmus
- Newcomer of the Year : Miné De Klerk
- Sportsman of the Year with a Disability : Pieter Du Preez
- Sportswomen of the Year with a Disability : Anrunè Liebenberg -Weyers
- Team of the Year : Springboks
- Recreation Body of the Year : Local Surf Lounge Academy,
- National Federation of the Year : SA Rugby
- Sport Administrator of the Year : Ndumiso Njabulo Nyawose
- Indigenous Games Team of the Year nominees : KwaZulu-Natal
- Volunteer of the Year : Owen Gabaotswe
