Athletics Central North West (ACNW) held their 2021 Awards Function on 19 January 2022 at Olën Park to celebrate the top athletics achievers of the past year. Paralympian, Liezel Gouws, took home the ACNW Athlete of the Year and Track and Field Athlete of the Year for her outstanding achievements.
Gouws participated in the Tokyo Paralympics and also claimed a 5th place in the 100m T37 event. “It is a privilege to be awarded with such a huge honour. It wasn’t the easiest year with regards to preparation for the Paralympics, but it worked out well in the end. It is the greatest honour to be able to represent your country at such a massive event,” added Gouws.
Her next big challenge is the World Championships taking place in August later this year.
Other big award winners were Elroy Gelant (Road Runner of the Year) as well as Rubin Essakow (Cross Country Athlete of the Year.
Photos: Wouter Pienaar
Here is the full list of award winners: Lifetime Service Award
Pio Mpolokeng
Special Awards: Youth And Junior Men
Henru Olivier – Junior World Champs
Keanu Domingo – Junior World Champs
Track And Field Youth And Junior Woman
– Karmen Fouche – Junior World Champs – Danielle Verster – Junior World Champs – Michaela Thomsen – Region 5 African Games – Janise Nell – Junior World Champs – Marissa Swanepoel – Junior World Champs
Track And Field: Senior Woman
Jo- Ané van Dyk – Olympics
Liezel Gouws – Paralympics
Senior Men
- Chederick van Wyk – Olympics
– Pieter Conradie –Olympics – Elroy Gelant – Olympics – Jerry Motsau – International
Cross Country Sub Youth Cross Country SA Champs -Rubin Essakow – Gold –SA Champs
-Kago Sheba – Gold – SA Champs
-David van der Linde – Gold –SA Champs
-Janco Proctor – Gold – SA Champs
Road Running
Elroy Gelant – Olympics – Marathon
Coaches Of 2021 – Jean Verster – Willem Coertzen – Werner Burger – Shaun Bownes – Johan van Niekerk Technical Officials Of 2021 – Wikus Geyer – Mapitso Lenkwe – Tshepo Tshoeu – Tlolana Moletsane
Athlete Of The Year Award: – Track And Field: Liezel Gouws
-Cross Country: Rubin Essakow
Road Running: Elroy Gelant
