Local gymnast shines at the Gauteng Sport Awards
She competed in level five on trampoline and level six on tumbling, winning gold medals on both apparatuses.
Seven-year-old gymnast Monapelo Mojapelo from Gimfinity Gymnastics was named the Amayanga-Yanga athlete of the year at the prestigious Gauteng Sport Awards on November 24.
The 13th edition of the awards, held under the theme ‘Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring the Youth’, aimed to recognise and honour Gauteng-based athletes for their exceptional achievements on the field.
The event, organised by the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, celebrated Gauteng’s reputation as the home of champions.
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Monapelo’s remarkable achievements this year include winning a gold medal in her age group at the South African Tumbling Championships in September.
She also excelled at the Ekurhuleni Tumbling and Trampoline Gymnastics Championships, clinching gold in Level 5 Trampoline and Level 6 Tumbling.
Sharing the stage with South Africa’s elite athletes, Monapelo joined other notable winners at the awards.
Rising football star Relebohile Mofokeng won sport personality of the year, a category determined by public votes.
Olympic swimmer Tatjana Schoenmaker was another standout, taking home over R350 000 in prize money and being crowned sportswoman of the year. Schoenmaker won gold in the 100m breaststroke and silver in the 200m breaststroke at the Paris Olympics earlier this year, delivering exceptional performances with times of 1:05.00 and 2:19.01, respectively.
This year’s lifetime achiever award went to Peter Manero Ngobeni, a trailblazing sprinter who made history as the first black South African to be awarded Springbok colours in 1985.
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Ngobeni’s selection was personally made by Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane.
All 59 finalists at the Gauteng Sport Awards received R15 000, while winners were awarded an additional R25 000.
Winners will also automatically qualify for the national South African Sport Awards, set to take place later this year.
In addition, nine Gauteng-based athletes who represented South Africa at the 2024 Paris Olympics were honoured with special cash incentives for winning medals.
This group included Schoenmaker, Bayanda Walaza, Akani Simbine, Shaun Maswanganyi, Bradley Nkoana, Simoné Kruger, Pieter du Preez, Donald Ramaphadi, and Lucas Sithole.
The incentives were sponsored by the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, further demonstrating their commitment to supporting and celebrating local talent.
