Sportswomen celebrated
WOMEN in sport were recognised on Wednesday at the Wanderers Club, Johannesburg, when the annual Spar gsport awards were handed out.
The sportswomen looked stunning flaunting their perfectly toned bodies — making those of us who are not as fit want to crawl into a hole and hide out with a plate of macaroons.
Former cricket commentator Kass Naidoo and her lawyer husband, Ryk Meiring, are the founders of the awards ceremony, which started seven years ago. Naidoo was the first female commentator at a time when men dominated sport. The couple also runs a blog aimed at raising the profile of women in sport.
Naidoo, who is due to have her third child in January, looked radiant in a yellow dress and black jacket. The master of ceremonies was the vivacious and witty 94.7 Highveld Stereo presenter Anele Mdoda, who added her bit of pizazz to the event.
Among the winners were Benoni High School teacher and Comrades runner Frith van der Merwe, who won the marathon in a record time of five hours, 54 minutes and 43 seconds in 1989. She won the gsport hall of fame award.
Johannesburg junior swimmer Nathania van Niekerk walked away with the up-and-coming athlete award.
Van Niekerk — who broke down and cried during her acceptance speech — looked drop-dead gorgeous in a maxi, one-shoulder dress created by Cape Town design house 466/64.
The woman of the year award went to rugby referee Marlize Jordaan. Diving coach Dominique Philippopoulos won sports coach of the year and wheelchair tennis player Kgothatso Montjane won athlete with a disability of the year.