Springbok Test captain Siya Kolisi is in the running for the Laureus Sporting Moment of the Year award after he clinched last month’s sporting moment award.
Inspirational Kolisi won the monthly Laureus Sporting Moment, which celebrates fair play, sportsmanship and drama. Kolisi’s inspirational rise from a childhood in Zwide township in Port Elizabeth to becoming the first black Springbok captain to win the Laureus Sporting Moment of the Month competition.
The award, voted for by sports fans around the world, is presented at the annual Laureus World Sports Awards - the most prestigious awards event on the international sporting calendar.
Leading the team against England at Ellis Park, Joburg in June, Kolisi wore the iconic No 6 jersey, the same number worn by then-president Nelson Mandela, the first Patron of Laureus, at the historic 1995 Rugby World Cup final, also at Ellis Park, which South Africa won.
The Boks, with Kolisi as their leader, would go on to win the series 2-1.
Kolisi became the 5th nominee for the Laureus Sporting Moment of the Year, joining March winners and ski jumping legends Sven Hannawald and Kamil Stoch, April winner Doddie Weir, Rochdale football star Joe Thompson, who won in May, and June’s winner, Chinese double-amputee Xia Boyu who climbed Mount Everest.
Each month, from March to December, the public can select their favourite moment from a shortlist of four videos, chosen by the sporting legends of the Laureus World Sports Academy. Monthly winners will then go head-to-head in a final public vote, with the winner being announced at next year’s Laureus Awards Ceremony.
The Laureus Sporting Moment Award demonstrates qualities such as fair play, sportsmanship, drama and dedication, and looks beyond the scoreboard or podium.
To view these emotional and engaging moments and to vote for your favourite, visit myLaureus.com.