We don't always have the time or the capacity to give everyone their flowers.
Yes, the Springboks and Dricus du Plessis have all the right to bag all the headlines and exposure, but there are many other South Africans who are the champions in their respective fields.
Banyana did us proud when they bagged the Woman’s African Cup of Nations trophy and renewed our hope in South African football. We will also credit Banaya for Bafana’s recent win.
Did you know Team South Africa is the Maths Olympiad champions in Africa? I think not, but they are and we are here to celebrate them.
It's never too late!
Here is a list of South Africans who have lived the mantra that it's not DNA it's just RSA!
- Dricus du Plessis: UFC Middleweight Champion.
- Team South Africa won a silver medal in the 4x400m relay final at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru.
- Haroun Pietersen, the powerlifting sensation brought home gold from the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships.
- Kirsten Neuschäfer: First woman to win the Golden Globe sailing race.
- Mpumelelo Mhlongo: T44 100m champion at the 2023 World Para Athletic.
- Jackson van Tonder Chauke: Boxing IBO World Flyweight Champion.
- South African Hockey: Men's and women's teams won gold at the Junior African Cup.
- Aldrich Potgieter: The youngest winner in the Korn Ferry Tour to win The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic 2023.
- The Protea Team: Golden Shears 2023 World Sheep Shearing Champions.
- South African Beekeepers: Participated in the 2023 UK National Show and won countless prizes.
- South African Hockey Teams: Women’s and men’s teams won gold medals for the 2023 Junior African Cup.
- Banyana Banyana: Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions.
- Team South Africa: Maths Olympiad champions in Africa.
- Springboks: Rugby World Cup Champions.
There are others and then there are South Africans. We came, we saw, we conquered all.
IOL Sport