There’s no denying that the lyrics of “Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves” ring true when recounting the heroics witnessed at Tuks Sport in 2023. This year has seen Tuks’ female athletes rising to new heights, clinching titles, and breaking records that will go down in history. Their remarkable achievements have allowed Tuks to proudly claim the titles of world champion, World Student Games champion, African Beach Games champion, and holders of numerous international medals. In addition to the victories, several athletes have found themselves ranked among the world’s elite.
Since 2018, the world has become accustomed to Tatjana Schoenmaker pushing her physical and mental boundaries to new extremes. In a groundbreaking moment, she became the first South African female swimmer to clinch a world title, triumphing in the 200m breaststroke at the World Championships held in Fukuoka, Japan. Adding to her accolades, Schoenmaker secured a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke.
READ MORE: Erin Gallagher Secures Silver at World Student Games in Chengdu
Schoenmaker’s gold at the World Championships held special significance. Following her victory at the Tokyo Olympic Games, she admitted to having faced a challenging period, with less than stellar swim times. She hadn’t ranked within the top three in her events in the lead-up to the championships, making her victory all the more unexpected. Remarkably, since 2017, Schoenmaker has consistently medaled at major international events, an impressive feat by any measure.
Another Tuks athlete who shone in 2023 was Marli Viljoen, who clinched gold in the 400 meters at the World Student Games hosted in Chengdu, China. Her victory was the culmination of a fantastic season during which she secured victory in 10 of the 20 400-meter races she competed in, finishing second in five races and third in three. Remarkably, she improved her best time by almost four seconds since 2020. Last year, her best time in the 400 meters stood at 53.33 seconds, while in the current season, she clocked an impressive 51.81 seconds, with a firm belief that she can achieve even greater speed.
The list of accomplished Tuks female athletes doesn’t end there. At the World Student Games, several others clinched medals. Kaylene Corbett secured silver in both the 100m and 200-meter breaststroke events, Erin Gallagher bagged silver in the 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 50m butterfly, and 50m freestyle, while Courtney Westley claimed silver in rowing’s single sculls. Charne Swart also contributed to the medal tally with a bronze in the 800 meters. Additionally, Cresswell partnered with Nadia Gaspari from UJ to win bronze in the women’s double sculls.
During the African Beach Games held in Hammamet, Tunisia, Amica de Jager made waves by winning gold in the open-water swimming event. Bea Meiring secured silver in beach wrestling, and Alexandra Ennis joined forces with Ziyanda Gwamanda in rowing to earn a well-deserved silver.
Marione Fourie, a 21-year-old Tuks sports science student, made headlines by setting a new South African record in Switzerland. She dashed through the 100m hurdles in just 12.55 seconds, making her mark as one of the 17 fastest times this season worldwide.
In the realm of netball, Tuks’ team emerged triumphant in the Varsity Tournament, showcasing their dominance by winning all nine of their games, a feat they’ve only achieved once before, in 2019.
As 2023 draws to a close, the lyrics of “Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves” resonate more than ever, encapsulating the spirit of Tuks’ female athletes, who have proven they can stand on their own two feet and ring their own bells. This year has undeniably been one in which these remarkable women have showcased their unparalleled talents and emerged as true sports heroes.
