New doors have opened for South African Olympians following official recognition of their achievements and status at a collaborative awards ceremony on Friday, 14 March 2025.
The South African Olympians Association (SAOA) honoured 30 athletes at the inaugural OLY Award Ceremony in South Africa. The event, hosted with the support of the South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC), celebrated these athletes by awarding them the prestigious OLY pin and certificate. This distinction allows recipients to use the OLY post-nominal after their names — a global mark of Olympic recognition.
Introduced in 2017 by the World Olympians Association (WOA), the OLY programme serves as a professional tool, highlighting the highly transferable skills Olympians develop while competing at the highest level. It symbolises their dedication, sporting excellence, and lifelong connection to the global Olympian network.
Founded in 2022, the SAOA is the official national chapter of the WOA, which was established in 1995. The WOA supports Olympians through various initiatives, including athlete development programmes, milestone celebrations, networking opportunities, skills-building workshops, and educational initiatives. The
association’s mission is “Service to Olympians and Service to Society.”
Friday’s event marked the first official collaboration between SAOA and SASCOC, setting the stage for future gatherings to honour and celebrate South African Olympians.
In acknowledging the latest inductees of South African Olympic athletes into the OLY programme, the President of SASCOC, Barry Hendricks, said: “It’s a great opportunity and honour to be able to have this collaboration held at Olympic House. It highlights our bond with SAOA and their commitment to assisting Olympians and their careers.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for them to network and to share their experiences of being Olympians and in so doing promote the Olympic values as well.”
The President of SAOA, Steve Evans, said: “Today is a historic day in that we are joining hands with SASCOC in honouring our Olympians. They achieved the pinnacleof their profession by attending a Games, and our association is to tell them thattheir journey doesn’t stop when their career stops. In fact, that’s where the next chapters begin!”
The SAOA also received a congratulatory letter from its patron, Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco. Although unable to attend the ceremony, Princess Charlene—herself a South African Olympian from the Sydney 2000 Games – extended her best wishes to the SAOA and the honoured communities worldwide.
Receiving their OLY pins and certificates on Friday were:
Gert Potgieter (Athletics, 1956); Marcelle Matthews (Figure Skating, 1960); Dario Torrente (Fencing, 1992, 2008); Hendrik Mokganyetsi (Athletics, 1996, 2000,2004); Kelly-Anne Marnewick (nee Williams) (Fencing, 2004); Natalie Tychler (Fencing, 2004); Iain Evans (Hockey, 2004); Steve Evans (Hockey, 2004); Stephanie Sandler (Gymnastics, 2004); Khotso Mokoena (Athletics, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016); Chris Dednam (Badminton, 2004, 2008); LJ van Zyl (Athletics, 2008, 2012, 2016); Carol Manson (nee Joyce) (Canoeing, 2008); Elvira Wood (Fencing, 2008); Mike Wood (Fencing, 2008); Kate Murray (nee Roberts) (Triathlon, 2008); Heinrich Barnes (Wrestling, 2008); Jyoti Chatturgoon (nee Chetty) (Fencing, 2008); Irvette van Zyl (Athletics, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024); Jessica Roux (nee Osmond) (Swimming, 2012); Jean Greeff (Weightlifting, 2012); Dina Lebo Phalula (Athletics, 2016); Kate Christowitz (Rowing, 2016); Lee-Ann Persse (Rowing, 2012, 2016); Micaela Bouter (Diving, 2000); Jovan van Vuuren (Athletics, 2024); Esti Olivier (Canoeing, 2024); Bennie Labuschagne (Wrestling, 1992); Nico Meerholz (Badminton, 1992); Erin Gallagher (Swimming, 2020, 2024).
