Johannesburg – There were many ups and downs in 2016, but South Africans have an unwavering passion for sport. And as the year draws to a close, the Saturday Star looks back at the most iconic and memorable South African sporting moments
Proteas whitewash Australia to make history: October 2016
The Proteas made history this year as they handed the number one ranked one-day international (ODI) side their first ever whitewash in a five-match series. Australia’s last ODI whitewash was a 4-0 loss to England in 2012 and they had never lost a five-match series to nil.
Faf Du Plessis’s men started off the ODI series against the Aussies in fine fashion cruising to a six wicket victory at SuperSport Park in Centurion. They then went on to further embarrass the Aussies in Joburg at the Wanderers, walking away with a 142 run win at the Bullring.
At Kingsmead in Durban, the contest was far more enthralling, with the Aussies setting a remarkable total of 371-6. Not to be outdone, the Proteas cruised to the mammoth total with four balls to spare.
At St Georges in Port Elizabeth, the Proteas bowling attack ripped through the Aussies batting order, removing the number one ranked ODI team for a measly 167. The Proteas chased down the total with 15 overs to spare.
In the final ODI at Newlands in Cape Town, the Proteas set a target of 327 for the Aussies to chase down. Despite a heroic effort by David Warner, the Aussies fell 31 runs short, capping a historical ODI series for the Proteas.
From zero to hero for Luvo Manyonga: August 2016
There were plenty of memorable moments from Team South at the Rio Olympics this year. One standout moment came from Luvo Manyonga, whose inspiring journey to winning Olympic silver will be a tale that will be told for years to come.
Manyonga battled and beat a methamphetamine addiction and then three years later went on to win a silver medal at the Rio Olympics for long jump.
Manyonga was banned for 18 months in 2012 because of his drug problem. He continued to be plagued by problems, both professionally and personally. His dedication to long jump helped him overcome his drug problem and transformed him in to a world beater.
Wayde Van Niekerk breaks World Record: August 2016
Wayde Van Niekerk’s record breaking run in the men’s 400m category at the Rio Olympics will go down as one of the finest moments in sporting history. Van Niekerk, running in the unfavoured lane eight, blasted off the final corner to time 43.03 seconds. The time was 0.15 seconds quicker than Michael Johnson's previous world best set in Seville in 1999, a record that had taken on mythical-like standing.
Johnson’s 17-year-old world record had finally been eclipsed and Van Niekerk had done it from the outside lane. That too was a record. No man has won the Olympic 400m from lane eight.
Van Niekerk became only the second South African to break an athletics world record at the Olympic Games. The last time was in 1928, when George Weightman-Smith set the 110m world mark in Amsterdam.
The last time a non-US athlete broke the men's 400m world record was in 1950, and the last time a South African held an athletics world record was in 1975.
Caster Semenya strolls to Gold : August 2016
There was no way Caster Semenya was leaving Brazil without a gold medal, having missed out on top honours at the London Olympics four years ago.
And Semenya didn’t disappoint.
Not only did she cruise to a gold medal in the women’s 800m in Rio, but she did it in record breaking time, setting a personal best and a new South African record.
Semenya crossed the finishing line in 1:55.28, becoming the first black South African woman to win an Olympic gold medal.
Mamelodi Sundowns crowned African champions: October 2016
Sundowns became only the second South African club to win the African Champions League, brushing off Egyptian team Zamalek 3-1 in a two leg final in the CAF Champions League.
Masandawana’s win against the five time African Champions league winners secured their place in the Fifa World Club Cup that took place in Japan this month. They were also the first South African team to make it to the FIFA World Club Cup.
Ntando Mahlangu takes Rio by storm: September 2016
Just four years after he first learnt how to walk, 14-year-old Ntando Mahlangu stood on a podium in Rio to receive his first Paralympic medal. Mahlangu claimed silver for Team South Africa in the men’s T42 final at the Rio Paralympic Games.
The Mpumalanga born athlete, who suffers from hemimelia, cruised to a time of 23.77 seconds, only being beaten by British Paralympic sensation Richard Whitehead (23.39). The ages of the six people who he left in the dust ranged from 23 to 35.
Since he was fitted with prosthesis for the first time four years ago, Mahlangu has smashed record after record. He’s been hailed as a star for the future.
Chad Le Clos faces off with Michael Phelps: August 2016
South African swimming sensation Chad Le Clos may have not had the greatest Olympics, but his face-off with US swim star Michael Phelps is a moment worth remembering.
The two resumed the rivalry that started in London in 2012 for the 200m butterfly semi-final at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in Rio.
Le Clos snatched gold from Phelps in the 200m Butterfly final in the 2012 games. Before their semi-final in Rio, Le Clos appeared to be warming up purposely right in front of Phelps in the ready room. The South African swimmer shadowboxed and went through different motions as Phelps stared ahead with an extremely determined expression.
Newcomers Cape Town City takes SA soccer by storm: December 2016
What Cape Town City FC have achieved in such a short space of time is nothing short of remarkable. Having been formed less than six months ago, the new established football club find themselves competing among football’s elite in South Africa.
Not only are they enjoying a top four spot in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), but have capped off a fine football year by winning their first trophy. The newcomers made history this month at the Peter Mokaba Stadium by clinching the Telkom Knockout Cup after defeating SuperSport United 2-1.
The newly formed club, under the management of Eric Tinkler will go in to the new year in third spot in the PSL, and with a trophy to the clubs name.
Brad Binder crowned Moto3 Champion: September 2016
The KTM Red Bull rider became the first South African rider to win a grand prix title since Jon Ekerold. Binder secured the 2016 Moto3 title with four races to spare, with a second-place finish at Aragon.
Binder became just the third motorcycle grand prix world champion from South Africa. He is the first since Ekerold won the 350cc title in 1980, which followed Kork Ballington winning the 350cc and 250cc titles in both 1978 and 1979. The 21-year-old will stay with Ajo Motorsport next year but move up to Moto2.
Bafana Bafana crowned winners of the Nelson Mandela Challenge: September 2016
Bafana Bafana made it a hat-trick of wins in the Nelson Mandela Challenge by defeating Egypt 1-0 at the Orlando Stadium. An early goal from Mpho Makola was enough to see South Africa edge out the Pharaohs to lift the Nelson Mandela Challenge trophy in the 23rd edition of the event.
They secured their third successive Nelson Mandela Challenge triumph having beaten Senegal and the Ivory Coast in the previous two editions.