A host of star athletes who showed resilience during the tough times brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic have received recognition for their perseverance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The University of the Free State (UFS) honoured these stars at a special KovsieSport awards function on 17 May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those honoured are the netball players Khanyisa Chawane (Proteas), Bianca de Wee (South Africa U21), Sne Mdletshe (South Africa U21; Proteas), Refiloe Nketsa (Proteas), Lef\u00e9bre Rademan (Proteas), Rolene Streutker (South Africa U21), Chanel Vrey (South Africa U21) and badminton player Robert Summers (South African team). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Others include Louzanne Coetzee and her guides Claus Kempen and Estean Badenhorst, who received a special award for their achievements at the 2021 Paralympic Games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany things might have gone unseen in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and therefore it is even more important to honour sports stars who showed true resilience during tough times,\u201d said Coetzee, who was the guest speaker at the function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coetzee, who won a silver and bronze medal at the games in 2021, encouraged athletes of the UFS to keep on inspiring others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The UFS honoured eight stars at the function, with the theme \u201cHonouring the brave, who managed to still take part on an international level from 2019 to 2021\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe fact that our athletes and KovsieSport managed to be resilient, and still have achievements to celebrate, is really great. The fact that we celebrate them is important.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
DB Prinsloo, former director of KovsieSport, is proud of the UFS students, their coaches and sports managers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo host such a function, you need achievements,\u201d said Prinsloo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe athletes honoured are people who had to practise during lockdown in some way or another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe had to be innovative and decide what we were going to do and how we were going to do it. They even made WhatsApp videos to practise at home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chawane admitted lockdown had been tough, but said sports people had to keep pushing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, it was a difficult time in terms of training and those things, but at the same time for me it was a positive to replan, see where I am and where I wanted to be \u2013 and work towards that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCreating those small goals during lockdown helped to keep me where I am at.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A host of star athletes who showed resilience during the tough times brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic have received recognition for their 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