The annual South African Sports Awards Ceremony took place at the Durban Playhouse Theatre in Durban on Sunday, and amid the gathering of the country’s best international sports stars, three university students were recognised for the superb efforts this year.
It’s been a 2019 to remember for the southern African nation, whose netball team reached the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time in 24 years while the national rugby team lifted their third Rugby World Cup trophy barely two weeks ago.
Yet among the country’s most successful sporting stars, three university students – all of whom medalled at this year’s FISU Summer Universiade in Napoli, Italy – were present at the glamorous annual Sports Awards Ceremony as three nominees who would go on to be named the country’s best in their respective fields.
The night’s big winner was swimming sensation Tatjana Schoenmaker, the South African flag-bearer at this summer’s Universiade. In Napoli, the talented 22-year-old won gold in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke, earning herself a nomination for the 2019 FISU Best Athlete of the Year Award.
In addition to her heroics in Italy, Schoenmaker topped the podium in the very same races at this year’s Tokyo Swimming World Cup, while also claiming the silver medal in the 200m breaststroke at the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, Korea, becoming the first South African woman to medal at a world long course championships since its inception in 1973.
For her immense achievements this year, the University of Pretoria student took home both the prestigious South African Sportswoman of Year and the South African Sports Star of the Year Awards, but ironically was not present at the ceremony in Durban as she was busy writing her final examinations in Pretoria.
After hearing of her achievement, Schoemaker took to social media to reveal her delight.
“Oh my… Did that just happen?!? Thank you, thank you! So incredibly honoured to be named Sports Woman of the Year and Sports Star of the Year at the SA Sport Awards. Thank you South Africa and the judges for believing in me!,” she wrote on Twitter.
When interviewed later by South African media, the award winner says she could barely believe her achievements, but hopes to inspire the next generation through her dedication and hard work.
“Every award I received is special,” she said. “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.”
Schoenmaker’s swimming teammate in Napoli Michael Houlie was also recognised for his impressive efforts in the pool over the past year, where he has made waves on the U.S. collegiate swimming scene while turning out for the University of Tennesee, medalling at several meets across the country.
The 2018 Youth Olympics 50m breaststroke champion rose to the top in his favoured event in Napoli, touching the wall first to claim the World Student Games 50m breaststroke title as well, before then featuring for South Africa’s senior national swimming team at the FINA World Aquatics Championships in South Korea.
For his stellar efforts across his breakthrough year, 19-year-old Houlie received the Newcomer of the Year Award – the very same award Schoenmaker received last year.
Zane Waddell (right) went from winning Universiade gold to taking the world title just weeks later in the former 2015 Summer Universiade hosting city of Gwangju, South Korea
Yet another university student swimmer, Zane Waddell, was also among the winners at the awards ceremony in Durban.
The 21-year-old, who won gold in the 50m backstroke final in Napoli, followed that up with gold on the senior international stage, winning the same event at the FINA World Championships in Gwangju.
The University of Alabama’s student’s effort saw him receive a Minister’s Excellence Award at the South African Sports Awards, rounding off a proud evening for both the South African University Sports Association and Swimming South Africa.
