3 South African Standard Bank Top Women Sports Champions

Medals Galore!

3 South African Standard Bank Top Women Sports Champions- From The pool, to the court and into the ocean

In 2021 the Standard Bank Top Women Awards honoured women who have been excelling and setting a wonderful example for the next generation of athletes. Kgothatso Montjane, Tatjana Schoenmaker and Bianca Buitendag were celebrated for their efforts on the sporting stage.

KGOTHATSO MONTJANE

Wheelchair tennis player Whether it be in singles or doubles, Kgothatso Montjane has made tennis courts around the world her stage. South Africa’s threetime Sportswoman with a Disability of the Year once again found herself in the limelight when she reached the Wimbledon finals for both singles and doubles. It was while studying at Helen Franz School, at the age of seven, that the girl hailing from Limpopo began playing tennis. Kgothatso is giving back through her Sports Development Foundation, which provides assistance to scholars from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.

Achievements

• Ranked No.1 in Africa and South Africa

• Ranked No. 5 in the world

• Won 29 Single Titles

• First Black South African woman to compete at Wimbledon

• First African to compete in all four grand slams

• Wimbledon finalist (Singles and Doubles)

TATJANA SCHOENMAKER

Swimmer Tatjana Schoenmaker found herself swimming to attention when she broke the 200m breaststroke record on her way to winning a gold medal in under two minutes and nineteen seconds.

As a teenager Tatjana was already a standout performer, winning multiple medals at the 2015 African Games and the 2017 World Student Games.

This success has continued into adulthood, including medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Achievements

• 200m breaststroke world record holder (Long Course)

• 200m breaststroke Olympic gold medalist (2020)

• 100m breaststroke silver medalist (2020)

• 100m breaststroke African record holder (Long Course)

• 50m breaststroke African record holder (Long Course)

• 200m breaststroke African record holder (Short Course)

• 100m breaststroke African record holder (Short Course)

• 50m breaststroke African record holder (Short Course)

BIANCA BUITENDAG

Former professional surfer Bianca Buitendag belongs in the ocean. The twenty-year-old professional surfer was a teenage prodigy.

She was crowned national champion six times before turning 16. Bianca went on to join the World Championship Tour at the age of 18, where she spent five years competing against the best surfers in the world. The Northeastern University graduate brought home one of the three medals team South Africa secured at the Tokyo Olympics, before announcing her retirement from competitive surfing.

Achievements

• Olympic silver medalist (2020)

• 6-time South African National champion

Sources: Biancabuitendag.com Tatjanaschoenmaker.com kgothatsomontjane.com