South African’s favourite team has been nominated for yet another auspicious award, this time for the Laureus World Sports Awards’ Team of the Year.
The mighty green and gold team has been recognised for their outstanding performance at last year’s Rugby World Cup. According to Laureus, their win was massively symbolic for South Africa and struck a chord with locals everywhere, moving the hearts of the nation.
Many are hoping the team emerges victorious yet again, having previously taken home the title in 2008 and received three previous nominations.
Both the nation and the team will have to wait to hear the results, which will be announced on February 17 at the awards ceremony in Berlin.
Another South African has made the coveted nominee list. Paralympic swimmer Natalie Du Toit has been nominated for Sporting Moments of the Year under the Ability of the Mind-category. She has been recognised for her unwavering strength to swim in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester despite being severely injured by an accident just one year earlier.
Du Toit went on to break records in the multi-disability 100-metre freestyle and the multi-disability 50-metre freestyle, making history. She didn’t stop there, making more waves by qualifying for the 800-metre able-bodied freestyle final. This was the first time in history any amputee had qualified to compete.
In 2008, she also became the first female amputee in history to qualify for the able-bodied Olympics. Time and time again, she has pushed boundaries for her country and inspired many. You can still vote for this amazing athlete here.
Picture: Laureus World Sports Award
