Thanks to a phenomenal year of performances in the pool, swimmers claimed much of the spotlight at the annual SA Sports Awards held at Sun City this past weekend.

Two of Pretoria’s biggest swimming stars, Lara van Niekerk and Pieter Coetzé, walked away with the respective Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year awards, while Rocco Meiring was named Coach of the Year.

Van Niekerk enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2022, gracing the podium at both world and Commonwealth level. She claimed a bronze medal in the 50m breaststroke at the World Championships in Budapest before taking Birmingham by storm, racing to double gold in the 50 and 100m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games.

She then capped off the year with a silver medal in the 50m breaststroke at the World Short Course Championships in Melbourne.

“Winning this award is such an honour and so special for me. But it is not just me who has won it, is also my coach, family and friends who have supported me every step of the way,” said the 19-year-old former learner of Hoërskool Garsfontein.

Meanwhile Coetzé, a learner at Cornwall Hill College in Centurion, claimed gold in the 100m backstroke, silver in the 50m backstroke and bronze in the 200m backstroke at the Commonwealth Games before heading to Peru where he collected a gold medal in the 200m backstroke at the World Junior Championships.

The 18-year-old also added two silvers to his haul – in the 50m and 100m backstroke and another silver and bronze in the relay events in Lima.

“I’m very grateful to be rewarded for the successful year which was made possible by everyone on my team – my coach, my parents and everyone who has supported me. It motivated me a lot and this is only the beginning of many more successful years to come,” Coetzé remarked.

He trains under the watchful eye of Coach of the Year winner Meiring, whose squad also includes Olympic champion and world record holder Tatjana Schoenmaker and Commonwealth Games silver and bronze medallists Erin Gallagher and Kaylene Corbett.

Meiring paid tribute to his coaching staff at the University of Pretoria, who he said were vital in the team’s Commonwealth Games preparation and success.

“I also have to thank my swimmers for doing the thing I can’t coach – that is stepping up in the big moments. Recognition for coaches is appreciated even though none of us do it to win awards. When an athlete succeeds, we succeed,” Meiring commented.

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