The Free State Sport Stars gala dinner honours the best sportsmen and women with disabilities in the province for their achievements.
This prestigious event, presented by Central24 and the University of the Free State (UFS), takes place at Monte Bello, Bloemfontein, on 13 October.
It is the first time in three years that the highlight on the sporting calendar is hosted, as Covid-19 prevented it in 2020 and 2021.
The last guest speaker, in 2019, was the former Protea cricket player Ryan McLaren. This year, it will be the former South African netball player and renowned television presenter, Vanes-Mari du Toit.
The sport stars with disabilities honoured in 2022 are:
Louzanne Coetzee (athletics – T11) with Claus Kempen and Estean Badenhorst (guides)
The Kovsie athlete returned from the Paralympic Games with a silver (1 500 m; T11) and bronze (marathon; T12) medal. She also set a new 1 500 m African record (T11; 4:40.96) and a new world marathon record (T11; 3:11:13) in her class. Badenhorst (1 500 m) and Kempen (marathon) were her guides in Tokyo. At the South African National Championship, Coetzee and Badenhorst ran a South African record in the 400 m (1:07:15) and won gold in the 800 m and 1 500 m.
Kristiaan Klopper (athletics – shot put and discus, U20 F64)
Klopper participated in the South African Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (SASAPD) National Championship for the first time in 2022 and claimed two medals – in the shot put and discus. This matric learner of the Hoërskool Voortrekker in Bethlehem set South African records in both events. In the shot put he won with 9.19 m, and in the discus with 28.21 m.
Karabo Morapedi (boccia, BC3) and Vincent Ramochela (ramp operator)
Morapedi is the top-ranked male BC3 player in South Africa. He and Ramochela were included in the SASAPD boccia team for the African Regional Championships. He won two medals at this event, which was the first ever championship of its kind: a silver in the individual BC3 male competition and gold with his partner in the BC3 pairs competition. Morapedi also won a bronze medal at the 2022 National Championships.
Naledi Nhlapo (boccia, BC4)
After only three years of competing, Nhlapo is the top-ranked female BC4 boccia player in the country. She was selected for the SASAPD boccia team that represented South Africa at the African Regional Championships. Nhlapo received an unofficial silver in the individual BC4 female competition and gold with her partner in the BC4 pairs competition. She also won bronze at the 2022 National Championships.
– Jóhann Thormählen
