#GSPORT20 Awards Finalist Unveiled and Public Voting Commences

Vote now at gsport.co.za/voting. There is no charge for voting, but it does require registration of a membership account (also free).

In the premier Athlete of the Year category, record-breaking 800m sensation Prudence Sekgodiso faces stiff competition from Olympic silver medallist, Jo- Ané van Dyk, and T20 World Cup finalist Laura Wolvaardt.

Sekgodiso has been making headlines this past year for her sensational performances on the track, which included South Africa’s first women’s indoor world title.

Van Dyk, meanwhile, was unstoppable in 2024, winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics and breaking several African records.

The Proteas captain’s performances speak for themselves as she led her team to a historic T20 World Cup final, smashed national records, and swept major awards.

The Para Sport Star category features Kgothatso Montjane, who, since her historic win at Wimbledon, has consistently demonstrated the utmost professionalism in wheelchair tennis, solidifying her name in the game.

Simoné Kruger is a young talent who continues to rise, having already won Paralympic gold in Paris with a record-breaking discus throw.

Veteran swimmer Kat Swanepoel continues to shine in and out of the pool. Her grit and determination have seen her shine on the Paralympic stage as she overcame setbacks.

Rising talents like Annerie Dercksen, Karabo More, and Louise Lepront compete in the Emerging Athlete category, showcasing the future of South African sport.

The all-rounder Dercksen has had a whirlwind start to her cricket career, and her talents are already being recognised as she earned the ICC Emerging Player of the Year award.

More, with the ferocious nickname of “The Beast,” has lived up to it, securing national glory with a 5 km elite win and 1,500 m title.

Lepront is making a name for herself in the world of surfing, and the youngster won bronze at the ISA World Juniors and back-to-back WSL Africa wins, proving she is one to watch.

School Sport Star Finalists Eve Abrahams, Rethabile Molefe, and Gia Raad vie for recognition as the next generation of sporting excellence.

Abraham's success has been felt not just in the water but out of it as she continues to be the necessary representation in Lifesaving, where she is excelling and making her mark on the sport.

Raad has dominated junior golf locally and on the international stage. Her wins include the R&A Women’s Invitational and SA Women’s Amateur.

Rising football star Molefe has captained SA to bronze at the CAF African Schools Championship and signed for AmaTuks at just 15.

In the Telkom Woman of the Year race, Akhona Poswayo, Dr. Roxy Davis, and Colleen McAusland are celebrated for their outstanding contributions on and off the field.

Poswayo has championed inclusion at Ellis Park and elevated women’s rugby through operational leadership and digital storytelling.

Dr. Davis has balanced elite surfing, academic innovation, and social impact, winning national titles, and harnessed the power of surfing to create an inclusive sport.

McAusland has quietly gone about her business, as she has been instrumental in ensuring women’s boxing gets the recognition it deserves.

The Woman in PR & Sponsorship category sees Bronwyn Roets, Retha Ingenbleek, and Jessica Porter shortlisted for their exceptional work behind the scenes.

Roets has shaped global campaigns for SA athletes ahead of Paris 2024 and continues to amplify female athletes on the world stage.

Ingenbleek has used heart, blending sponsorship and purpose as she ensures there is an impact made in women’s sport.

Porter is a mentor and thought leader; she’s transforming sport PR into a platform for real equity and change.

For Women in Social Media, finalists Potso Aphane, Stephanie Mawdsley, and Amanda Msimango have made waves in engaging fans and communities.

Aphane has been a driving force for women in sport as she used social media to elevate and amplify coverage of females in various sporting codes.

Mawdsley has become a TikTok star, garnering 2 million views sharing Women’s football content with meaningful storytelling, highlighting the athletes that play the Beautiful Game.

Msimango is redefining digital storytelling in sport. Her work on the Olympics and SA20 campaigns has reached millions.

Leading voices Rachel Makhura, Oarabile Diphoko, and Mahlodi Ranku compete for Woman in Radio, while stalwart Gloria Brown, fast-rising Layla Arrison, and former winner, Vusiwe Ngcobo, are recognised in Woman in TV.

Makhura has been the voice of women’s sport for several years now and continues to advocate for gender parity on and off the sports field.

Diphoko continues to break boundaries on Kaya 959 with meaningful storytelling. Ranku brings passion and purpose to the airwaves of Alex FM, uplifting women’s sport from grassroots to pro level.

When you think of women’s sports commentary on television, Brown is someone who instantly comes to mind. She has paved the way for many women to follow in her footsteps as a commentator.

Newcomer, Arrison had a historic start to her journey in TV as she became SuperSport’s first English- language female rugby commentator.

Ngcobo has worked her way to becoming one of the most recognisable women in television. Her heart and dedication have seen her rise through the ranks to become an icon on our screens.

In print media, former winner, Mpumi Manyisi, and new names, Sinovuyo Ndudane, and Lebogang Le Kay have been acknowledged for Woman in Print Award category.

For Manyisi, consistency has been key to her success as she has always been at the forefront of breaking news when it comes to women’s sport.

Ndudane’s writing amplifies unheard voices and celebrates women’s achievements across boxing, football, and school sports. While Le Kay has become known for her inclusive writing, putting the spotlight on athletes’ stories with heart and depth.

Top coaches Dillon du Preez, Andries Kruger, and Violet Semenya battle it out for Coach of the Year. Du Preez will go down in South African cricket’s history books, defeating Australia for the first time in a semifinal across both men’s and women’s cricket.

Kruger used his mental, technical, and emotional coaching to aid his daughter, Simone’, in becoming a Paralympic gold medal winner.

Semenya has been the mastermind behind the success of Glenrose Xaba, which has seen the long-distance runner seal national titles in the past year.

Special Recognition Finalists include Robin de Kock, Bonita van Jaarsveldt, and Taryn de Winaar. As the first unified president of Surfing SA, De Kock’s five-decade contribution to surfing shaped the sport’s transformation.

Van Jaarsveldt's strength and determination have inspired many as the boxing star balanced motherhood, full-time work, breast cancer, and her sporting career.

De Winner is a coach, selector, and educator, and empowers girls across sporting codes to thrive with confidence, inclusion, and strong ethical values.

Proteas Women’s cricketer, Nonkululeko Mlaba, television and media personality, Zanele Potelwa, and Banyana Banyana star, Thalea Smidt, compete in the Style Star of the Year Award category.

Mlaba fuses cricketing excellence with confident fashion expression, which has seen her be her authentic self on and off the field.

A red carpet regular, 5FM radio personality Potlewa is known for her wow factor when it comes to fashion as she fuses her personality with her funky and vibrant attire.

Smidt turns heads with her standout presence in both football and fashion. She is known for her creativity when it comes to exploring style.

Madeleine Khunou, who coaches both her daughters, both former gsport School Sport Star of the Year winners, is up against Banyana Banyana star, Kholosa Biyana, and Proteas men’s cricket captain, Temba Bavuma, for their outstanding work at their respective foundations to elevate the girl child, and are finalists for Supporter of the Year.

Khunou has been the ultimate supporter of her two daughters, Alicia and Lesedi, from township fields to national titles.

Biyana, through “Lace Up For Change,” supplied boots and balls to 40+ U15 players in Mthatha and championed media visibility for women’s football.

Bavuma is showing leadership beyond the cricket pitch as his foundation renovates schools and runs sanitary pad drives—creating safe, inclusive cricket pathways for township girls and boys alike.

The prestigious Team of the Year category features the Proteas Women’s Cricket team, SA Junior Women’s Hockey, and the SA Proteas Counter-Strike Women’s Esports Team.

The Proteas Women have been consistent performers over the past few years, and their T20 final appearance proves they are on the cusp of a major title win.

SA Junior Women’s Hockey is making its mark in the sport as they went unbeaten at the 2025 Junior Africa Cup and secured World Cup qualification, proving they are among the best on the continent.

The SA Proteas Counter-Strike Women’s Esports Team has been one of the standout sides in women’s sport. They secured the 2024 African Esports Championship by dominating continental rivals and redefining women’s roles in gaming.

The African Woman in Sport category recognises Botswana's Dorothy Okatch, Africa’s first FIBA 3x3 A License referee, continental boxing champion Monica Mkandla from Zimbabwe, and South Africa's Tasha Mentasti, transforming African surfing through visionary leadership.

Okatch made history and empowers girls through basketball and redefined officiating on a global scale.

Mkandla’s fearless spirit and relentless drive are raising the profile of women’s boxing across Africa.

As WSL Africa Director, Mentasti continues to create gender parity and inclusion in surfing for women across Africa.

In the Inverroche Global Woman in Sport category, globetrotting Proteas women’s cricket star, Chloe Tryon, will battle it out with internationally recognised rugby referee Aimee Barrett-Theron and international television anchor, Julia Stuart.

Tryon has been on the receiving end of a view top awards, and this comes as no surprise as she has delivered explosive all- round performances for South Africa and excelled in The Hundred, WPL, and WBBL.

Barrett-Theron has become a recognisable face on our screens when it comes to rugby and in the 2024–2025 season was one of the first women to referee 40 international rugby Tests.

A former winner on TV, Stuart has gone global since she joined Premier League TV and Sky Sports, reporting on top football leagues and events.

Volunteer of the Year Finalists Juanita Jacobs, Kagiso Musi, and Brenda Marolen are acknowledged for their invaluable contributions. Jacobs uplifts youth through sport, founding Impact Through Sport and mentoring underserved girls in rugby, netball, and football.

Musi, volunteers across tennis, golf, and water polo—supporting athletes, fundraising, and managing national teams.

Marolen empowers young athletes through Urithi Athletics Club, mentoring youth, providing essential gear, and ensuring girls participate with dignity in Limpopo.

The Federation of the Year category includes Cricket South Africa (CSA), Surfing South Africa, and Athletics South Africa.

CSA is at the forefront when it comes to gender parity and transformation, and has built on various successes in the senior and junior teams' success to ensure a bright future for women’s cricket in the country.

Surfing SA boosted women’s participation with women-only divisions, mentorships, and visibility campaigns.

ASA celebrated an incredible year with Olympic medals, record participation, and powerful female representation in para and able-bodied athletics.

Finally, the Sponsor of the Year finalists are FNB, Investec, and Bidvest.

FNB put the necessary financial backing behind the Springbok Women Sevens, and age-grade squads, as well as grassroots-to-elite investment, which shows their deep commitment to improving the game.

Investec has become the champion of women’s golf and has championed the game by investing in prize money, visibility, and long-term career growth for local female pros.

Lastly, Bidvest R66 million Operation Excellence (OPEX) investment supports women athletes across Olympic and Paralympic codes, delivering holistic, tri-level development for all involved.

Online voting opens on Friday, 1 August at noon, and ends at midnight on Sunday, 10 August.

Vote now at gsport.co.za/voting. Voting is free and requires registration for membership (also free).