Four student-athletes' achievements on international level were recognised at Maties Sport's annual awards evening when they were named the sportsmen and sportswomen of the year for 2016.

The evening was hosted on 19 October.

Double gold medallist at the Paralympic Games and world record holder Charl du Toit not only walked away with the title of Parasport Sportsman of the Year but also received the media personality award. Charl, who won gold in the 100m and 400m events for athletes with cerebral palsy (T37) in Rio, also served as the evening's guest speaker.

He encouraged his fellow students to identify the reason they participate in sport and hold on to that during tough times, and to keep on enjoying what they do.

Charl is studying towards an honour's degree in Education Management.

Another student in the Faculty of Education, Anruné Liebenberg, was named Parasport Sportswoman of the Year. She won silver in the 400m (T47) at the Paralympic Games.

Charl and Anruné's coach Dr Suzanne Ferreira once again received the award for Coach of the Year for individual sport.

Athlete Justine Palframan and squash player Daniel Smith were named Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year respectively. Incidentally they both hail from Eshowe, a small town in KwaZulu-Natal, and attended the same primary school. They are also both students in the Department of Sport Science.

Justine, who received this award for the third consecutive year, represented South Africa in the 200m and 400m events at the Olympic Games in Rio while Daniel was selected for the University Sport South Africa team that participated in the World University Squash championships in Malaysia in September. The team won bronze. After winning the award he said that he never expected squash would receive this kind of recognition and that he couldn't be happier.

The Maties Rugby Sevens team was named Team of the Year after winning both the USSA and Varsity Sports titles while their coach, Ian Campbell-McGeachy, was named Coach of the Year for team sports. Maties Rugby received the Club of the Year award.

A total of 58 students were awarded full colours which meant they represented South Africa at international level, while 56 students were awarded half colours. These are students who were selected for provincial teams.

Cricketers Ryelan Hardnick and Niel Botha and rugby player Craig Corbett were recognised for academic excellence, while Stacey van Konynenburg and Adriaan Hougaard (Maties Gymnastics) as well as Nicky Giliomee (Maties Cycling) received recognition for administrative service.

The sevens, cycling, swimming, gymnastics, judo and men's hockey teams were honoured for winning their respective USSA competitions.

Prof Wim de Viiliers, Rector and Vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU), said that sport forms a crucial part of the university's value proposition.

"Our sporting achievements generate enthusiasm and loyalty among students, staff, alumni and the wider community we serve and I must say, you folks have given us plenty of reason to feel proud the past year."

Photo credit: Anton Jordaan