Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt was named Athlete of the Year as gsport handed out 28 honours at the 21st gsport Awards at the Wanderers Club in Illovo, Johannesburg on Saturday, 8 August 2026.
The 21st edition of Africa’s longest-running celebration of women in sport drew nearly 475 public nominations across 20 categories, narrowed by an independent panel of judges and decided alongside a national public vote that closed under a cloak in July.
Cricket dominated the night. Wolvaardt took the top individual honour after anchoring South Africa’s run to the 2025 World Cup Final and smashing a 47-ball T20 International century against India, her 17th international hundred, equalling the all-time record for the most centuries in women’s international cricket.
The Proteas Women were named Team of the Year for reaching consecutive World Cup finals and backing that up with an emphatic series triumph over India in April, while their head coach Mandla Mashimbyi took Coach of the Year for the tactical execution and psychological blueprint behind that rise.
The 2026 gsport Award Winners
Para Sport Star of the Year: Simoné Kruger
School Sports Star of the Year: Katleho Malebana
Athlete of the Year: Laura Wolvaardt
Sponsor of the Year: Hollywoodbets
Team of the Year: Proteas Women
Federation of the Year: Cricket South Africa
Volunteer of the Year: Jill Fortuin
Woman in Radio: Lonwabo Miso
Emerging Athlete of the Year: Joviale Mbisha
African Woman in Sport: Simangele Hadebe
Coach of the Year: Mandla Mashimbyi
Global Woman in Sport: Dr Debbie Alexander
Special Recognition: Sue Abbott
Woman in Television: Lonwabo Miso
Woman in PR and Sponsorship: Monya Greyvenstein
Woman of the Year: Colleen McAusland
Woman in Social Media: Stephanie Mawdsley
Woman in Print: Cecilia van Bers
Style Star of the Year: Nonkululeko Mlaba
Supporter of the Year: Prabashnee Naidoo
Public Choice Award: Hlobisile Khumalo
gsport Hall of Fame 2026: Portia Modise
Ministerial Recognition of Excellence: Liezl Gouws
Ministerial Recognition of Excellence: Paris-Gail Isaacs
Ministerial Recognition of Excellence: Jenny van Dyk
Ministerial Recognition of Excellence: Bonolo Mokoma
Ministerial Recognition of Excellence: Roshael Hoosen
20 Years of gsport Award: Penny Heyns