Working hard and never giving up is why Tatjana Smith and Donald Ramphadi, respectively, are Tuks’ Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year.

Smith again had a phenomenal year in the pool, where she confirmed her dominance in breaststroke swimming by winning the 100m breaststroke at the Paris Olympic Games and finishing second in the 200m breaststroke.

In doing so, she became the most decorated South African Olympian, with two gold and two silver medals in her name. Her achievements have cemented her status as the GOAT (greatest of all time) swimmer in South African Olympic history.

Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole won bronze in the men’s quad-doubles, beating Brazil’s Leandro Pena and Ymanitu Silva in the playoff for third place during the Paris Paralympic Games. It is the first time African wheelchair players have medaled at the Games.

Ramphadi also contested the semifinals in the doubles and singles at the Australian and French Open Tournaments.

Ramphadi dedicated the medal to the team that has supported him in the Paris Games build-up.

“I want to encourage people to support us as wheelchair tennis players as it is an expensive sport. There is so much raw talent in South Africa who, if supported, can make South Africans feel proud. It is important to me to feel like an elite athlete all the time, not only when competing at the Paralympic Games or a Grand Slam Tournament. Getting the support will boost our confidence,” Ramphadi said while receiving his accolade.

Edmund du Plessis, a fourth-year medical student, is the Tuks Student Sportsman of the Year. His performance in the 800 metres during the Paris Olympics was gutsy.

He ran from the front when he saw no one prepared to race in the semifinals. The challenge was to have a top-two finish. He got oh so close to doing so. He was still second with about 15 meters to race, but unfortunately, his legs went on strike. Two athletes passed him over the final metres, leading to him missing out by 0.17 seconds to go through to the final. It was the first time he competed at the Games.

Of the nine races he competed in internationally, he won four and was second twice and third once. Du Plessis set a new personal best in the 800 metres, running 1:44.22. It is nearly three seconds faster than he did last year. He is also the SA champion for the 2nd consecutive year.

Erin Gallagher, a BSc Geography and Environmental Science student, is the Student Sportswoman of the Year. At the South African Championships, Erin set an African and South African record in the 100m butterfly, clocking 57.32 seconds. She also set a South African record in the 50m butterfly, finishing in 25.59 seconds. During the Paris Games, she competed in the semifinals of the 100m butterfly.

Rocco Meiring (swimming) is the Individual Coach of the Year, and Maude Khumalo (women’s football) is the Team Coach of the Year.

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