Kolisi named Sport Industry Personality of the Year

DHL Stormers and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi was named Personality of the Year at the Hollard Sports Industry Awards for 2020, which was staged digitally this year.

The presentation takes place annually to celebrate achieving personalities and businesses in the South African sports industry.

Kolisi received his award from last year’s winner, Annelee Murray, who is the long-serving Springbok PR Manager.

“This award is really a team award, an acknowledgement of the good work done by everyone involved with the Springboks, from the coaches and players to the medical staff and the rest of the management,” said Kolisi.

Asked about the prospects of facing the British & Irish Lions next year in the Springbok jersey, the Bok captained said: “We are all very excited about the tour and we want to prepare as hard as we can to be ready for what promised to be a fantastic Test series.”

According to the awards organisers, 2020 may have been a year to forget for the South African sports industry, but it was still preceded by some ground-breaking innovation and creativity towards the end of 2019, and the response to the COVID-19 crisis has been nothing short of inspiring.

Michael Johnson, the former multiple Olympic gold medallist and 200m and 400m world record holder, delivered the keynote address.