South Africa’s swimming sensation Olympic gold medal winner Tatjana Schoenmaker has been shortlisted for the BBC African Sports Personality of the Year 2021 award.
Tatjana won a gold medal and set the world record in the 200-metre breaststroke at the 2020 Olympic Games.
She also won the silver medal in the 100-metre breaststroke dash at the 2020 Olympic Games.
The 24-year-old Financial Science University of Pretoria graduate can win the BBC accolade if she amasses the most votes.
There are five other contenders for the accolade including fellow South African Ntando Mahlangu (para-athletics), Eliud Kipchoge (athletics), Faith Kipyegon (athletics), Christine Mboma (athletics) and Edouard Mendy.
The BBC says the contestants were chosen by a panel of journalists from Africa and the United Kingdom.
The panel selected a shortlist based on the best African sporting achievements on the international stage in 2021 (between January and September).
The impact of the person’s achievement beyond their particular sport was also taken into account.
Tatjana recently formed the Tatjana Foundation which she says aims to bless “others just as I have been blessed.”
She wants the foundation to be a “God-centered foundation” that gives back to those in her community.
To vote for Tatjana go to: https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/59089895
Voting closes at 23:59 GMT on Sunday, 19 December and the winner of the award will be announced on Friday, 7 January 2022 on Focus On Africa television and radio and on the BBC Sport website.
