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The G-Sports Awards touches the lives of many women in sports

Minister and Deputy Minister of Sports and Recreation
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The 13th edition of the G-Sports Awards has touched the lives of many women in sports across South Africa.

This initiative is a platform that follows and highlights women’s sports achievements by recognising their talent.

The G-Sports Awards are designed to put sport in the spotlight for women.

South African women in sport assembled at the Wanderers club to honour and raise the profile of women in sport on Friday.

A holistic approach is needed for things to change for the better for women in sport in the country.

And there are plans in the pipeline that will focus only on women to level the playing field for all.

Sports and Recreation Minister Tokozile Xasa says: ”It’s the last day of the month where women in sports have been featuring throughout the month and also a part of women as we celebrate the greatest icons who have paved their way to ensure that women’s struggles, women’s excellence, women’s contribution is honoured, is celebrated, is awarded.”

Gauteng MEC for Sports and Recreation Faith Mazibuko says: ”They are celebrating and recognising all the unsung heroines especially when it comes to the sports sector especially being women. We all know that women, they are least recognised , especially in whatever it is that they do so that is what’s so exciting about G-Sports.”

Caster Semenya won the Athlete of the Year for the fourth time.

Semenya won for her unbeatable athletic performance of the country’s longest running women’s sports award.

As if that was  not enough, she also won the woman of the year category.

The star was not on hand to receive the double accolade due to international competition. Accepting the 2018 athlete of the year award in the champion’s absence, was Banyana Banayana coach Desiree Ellis.

“We should celebrate her in all the diversity that she’s faced, she still carries on. She still performs race after race and that’s how fantastic she is and we should go out there and support her no matter what because when people say that she can’t, God says yes,” says Ellis.

South African swimmer, Tatjana Schoenmaker competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Schoenmaker won gold medals in women’s 100 metre breaststroke and the women’s 200 metre breaststroke.

Tatjana Schoenmaker Emerging Athlete of the Year Winner says: “These girls are as good. So we are all winners. So just because I’m walking away with a trophy doesn’t mean anything.”

 

Newly nominated for the awards, Frenni Shivambu, was strongly positive of her nomination.

“Since day one when they nominated me I considered myself a winner because for me to be nominated I was so happy for the nomination. But for the award I’m extremely happy,” says Shivambu.

 

Sport women in South Africa will continue with their outstanding work and drive the movement forward.

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