SA Sports Awards 2019: Swimmer Schoenmaker Biggest Winner

The SA Sports Awards 2019 took place in Durban on Sunday and swimmer Tatjana Schoenmaker shined by taking top honours from an impressive and competitive list of sportsmen and women nominated. The awards acknowledge local sporting heroes who have excelled in their respective sporting fields.

University of Pretoria (Tuks) swimmer Tatjana Schoenmaker was the biggest winner when she won the South African Sportswoman of Year-award as well as the South African Sports Star of the Year award.

The Springboks with their massive Rugby World Cup feat also came into the reckoning for bigger awards with coach Rassie Erasmus honoured with the SA Sports Coach of the Year award.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi won the People’s Choice Sports Star award at the SA Sports Awards held in Durban on Sunday.

The Springboks, however, did not win Team of the Year which went to the the Proteas Netball Team after their run to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Liverpool, which captivated the nation earlier this year.

Springbok wing and Rugby World Cup winner in 1995, Chester Williams, who sadly passed away earlier this year, was posthumously honoured at the awards ceremony with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Seven-year-old golfing prodigy Simthandile Tshabalala was the youngest individual to be honoured with the Ministers Excellence Award.  

Schoenmaker came into the reckoning for major awards after she won a silver medal in the 200m-breaststroke during the World Championships in Korea which was the first time that a local swimmer had won a medal at a world long course championship (50m).

The Tuks swimmer also won two gold medals (100m as well as 200m breaststroke) at the World Student Games in Napoli, Italy and two gold medals at the Tokyo World Cup (100m and 200m breaststroke).

“Every award I received is special. At times it is still hard to believe that I am considered to be one of the best. I am not always sure whether I inspire young female swimmers. I can only hope so.

“I will certainly continue trying to do my best whenever I compete. The most important thing every young swimmer should realise is that nothing is impossible. They only have to believe and be prepared to put in the long and hard hours.” said Schoenmaker

By Gerald Dandah