Your Sports Person of the Year finalists

Brief bios of the Northcliff Melville Times Sports Person of the Year finalists.

The inaugural Northcliff Melville Times has gotten off to a brilliant start. Messages with nominees are still coming in via all our platforms even though we have moved on to the voting stage. It’s great to see the readers of the Northcliff Melville Times participating in this initiative to celebrate those that made 2019 special, different and easier…

For those looking to vote but not too sure about who to vote for, below are short bios of our finalists and links to some of the work they have been part of this year. We hope this helps you make a decision for who you believe should walk away with one of the coveted awards.

Sports Person of the Year finalists

Palesa Manaleng: South African Para-Athlete
From a life-changing accident in 2014 to aiming to represent the country at the 2020 Paralympic Games. Manaleng is continuously proving that in order to excel on the sports field, hard work and determination is key.
Find out more about Palesa Manaleng here

Theo Buttress: Founder of Bantwana College Football Club NPC
Nothing will get in the way of Buttress’ goal to play a part in women’s football development. He has been hard at work over the last year to ensure that his club is not only competitive and successful but also a place where women of various ages and abilities can come together to play the beautiful game.
Find out more about Theo Buttress here

Gerda Steyn: Athletics champion
Not only is she a Comrade’s Marathon winner, she also set the new and current record as the first woman to complete the race in under six hours. This athletics star also came in second at this year’s SPAR Women’s Challenge Joburg 10km race.
Find out more about Gerda Steyn here

Graham Block: Founder of Run Zone Athletics Club
Block turned this two-year-old club into the biggest athletics club in Gauteng. The club is now home to all runners from beginners to experts and all the levels in-between. This is just the start for this club as they have big plans awaiting them in 2020.
Find out more about Graham Block here

Rene Kalmer: South African runner and champion
The 2008 and 2012 South African Olympic runner now runs her own development club. With a world of experience under her belt, 65 SPAR Women’s races complete and now having officially become an ambassador for the SPAR race, it’s safe to say she had an amazing 2019.
Find out more about Rene Kalmer here