Gauteng Sports Awards: Arno, Tatjana and Simoné make us proud
Para-athlete Arno Graaff, Tatjana Smith and Simoné Kruger were among the big winners at the 2024 Gauteng Sports Awards. All of them have roots in Krugersdorp.
The 13th edition of the annual Gauteng Sports Awards took place recently where para-athlete and Hoërskool Noordheuwel learner Arno Graaff was awarded the Sportsman of the Year with a Disability.
Arno’s achievements include an SA record and gold medal in the U20 javelin event with a throw of 38.88m, as well as a gold medal at the South African Championships in March for the U20 discus event with a distance of 31.65m.
Graaff was among some of South Africa’s most elite sports stars to win at the Gauteng Sports Awards, joining the likes of football sensation Relebohile Mofokeng who won Sports Personality of the Year, a category that was voted for by the public through SMS voting.
Graaff’s achievements are not just his only accomplishments as he also displayed a great amount of willpower despite his obstacles. He was born with seven fingers on his right hand and no thumb with no function of his wrist or elbow. Despite this, he hit his milestones inspiring many other young athletes to work hard and showcase their skills. He has always been an avid sportsman recalling having played a variety of sports throughout his school career.
”Growing up as a youngster I enjoyed playing club rugby. When this became too physically challenging, I found my love for cricket which I played through high school and in which I also did an umpire level one course. I was first introduced to the Para Athletic circuit in August last year after which I joined the Disability Club and started my training with coach Eben Vermaas [shot put and discus] and Leon Rheeder,” Graaff said.
Olympic swimmer Tatjana Smith, a former Noordheuwel learner herself, was another big winner at the Gauteng Sports Awards taking home over R350 000 in prize money and being crowned Sportswoman of the Year. She competed in the 100m breaststroke and the 200m breaststroke at the Paris Olympics winning a gold medal in the 100 breaststroke with a time of one minute and five seconds and a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke with a time of two minutes and 19.01 seconds.
This year’s Lifetime Achiever recipient, as selected by Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane, was Peter Manero Ngobeni. He was once the fastest sprinter in South Africa, winning multiple SA championships sprint titles and was the first black sprinter to be awarded Springbok colours in 1985.
The 59 finalists earned R15 000, while the winners received an additional R25 000 in prize money. The winners will automatically be entered into the national South African Sport Awards happening later this year. The awards were held under the theme Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring the Youth. They recognised and honoured Gauteng-based athletes for their brilliance on the field and for living up to Gauteng being the ‘Home of Champions’.
Meanwhile, a total of nine Gauteng-based athletes who represented South Africa at the 2024 Olympics received special cash incentives for winning medals. They include Tatjana, Bayanda Walaza, Akani Simbine, Shaun Maswanganyi, Bradley Nkoana, Simoné Kruger (another local), Pieter du Preez, Donald Ramaphadi and Lucas Sithole. The incentives were awarded courtesy of the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
