The Bloemfontein rose Louzanne Coetzee (middle) was a double winner at the 2024 Free State Sport Stars gala event. Not only was she crowned Sportswoman of the Year at this glamorous event in Bloemfontein – she also walked away as the overall Sport Star of the Year 2024. Coetzee was honored for her performance on the athletics track at this year’s Paralympic Games, where she won a bronze medal in the 1 500 m (T11) and participated in the marathon event (T11 and T12). Mthi Mthimkulu (second from left), a native of the Goldfields, took home the title of Sportsman of the Year 2024. He made his mark on the athletics track this year as part of the South African mixed 400 m relay team that won gold at the Confederation of African Athletics’ (CAA) African Athletics Senior Championships. With them are Jeannine van Zyl (general manager of Central24, left), Jerry Laka (director of KovsieSport) and Zainal Samodien (Standard Bank’s head of personal and private banking services in the Free State and Northern Cape).


The Free State Sport Stars gala event was once again a highlight on the calender of the sports fraternity in the province. The best sportsmen and sportswomen were honoured at the event, hosted by Central24 and the University of the Free State (UFS), for their achievements over the past year. The top performers, from school to senior level, sponsors, coaches, officials and special guests were among those who attended the dinner on 3 October at the Monte Bello Estate in Bloemfontein. Standard Bank was the main sponsor of the glamorous event. Mlungisi Louw took the photos.

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