Coetzé, Corbett Honoured as Bombela Aquatics Awards Salute SA’s Rising and Reigning Stars

South Africa’s aquatics community came together at the Bombela Concession Company Annual Aquatics Awards at the

Southern Sun OR Tambo on 29 November 2025 to honour the athletes, coaches and volunteers who excelled in the past season.

Pieter Coetzé was named Male Swimmer of the Year after a standout season highlighted by a trio of backstroke medals at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, including a memorable gold in the 100m backstroke. His performances, backed by multiple African records, reinforced his status as one of South Africa’s most promising Olympic prospects.

On the women’s side, Kaylene Corbett was awarded Female Swimmer of the Year following her breakthrough bronze in the 200m breaststroke at the same championships. It was a first major international medal for the two-time Olympic finalist.

Water polo also took centre stage, with Mitchell Garreau and Boati Motau receiving the awards for Male and Female Water Polo Players of the Year. Motau was part of the South African team that competed at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore earlier this year.

“To be given this is the highest honour. It just shows all the hard work that I’ve been putting into the sport and all the love, blood, sweat and tears,” said a thrilled Motau. “So I’m really honoured and grateful, but this isn’t only for me. It’s also for my family and teammates.” Bailey Heydra was honoured as Diver of the Year after a season marked by steady progression. The US-based diver finished 29th in the 3m springboard event at the world championships and secured 14th spot in the synchronised 3m springboard event along with partner Zalika Methula.

Tayla-Jade van Huyssteen was named Artistic Swimmer of the Year, while African champion Callan Lotter and Connor Buck were honoured as the female and male Open Water Swimmers of the Year. Kris Mihaylov was recognised as Most

Promising Athlete of the Year, after storming to 200m butterfly gold at the World Junior Championships in Romania earlier in the year. “I’m honoured and grateful. We’ve worked hard so I’m just happy to reflect that and see how far I’ve come,” said Mihaylov.

Speaking about his podium-topping performance in Romania, the 18-year-old added: “It was surreal. It’s something you’ve dreamed of when you were a little kid but at the end of the day it’s actually just the start, and this is just a great motivating factor for me and more will come for sure.” The hotly contested Aquatics Personality of the Year, which was decided by public vote, went to Para swimmer Aaron Putz, who edged out Heydra and Erin Gallagher for the award.

After a year marked by several more world-record performances, Minke Janse van Rensburg was named Female Para Swimmer of the Year, while Christian Sadie was awarded the Male Para Swimmer of the Year accolade after returning from the World Para Swimming Championships with a silver and two bronze medals, along with several new continental

records. Meanwhile, Rocco Meiring was named Coach of the Year after guiding both Coetzé and Corbett to global medal performances.

Meiring’s efforts at the University of Pretoria continue to provide a major contribution towards South Africa’s high performance pipeline, with TUKS also being named Club of the Year. “I’m humbled. As I said, I’m not the coach of the year. I’m representing a coaching staff is as much part of the award as anybody else,” said Meiring afterwards. “I’m very happy for the swimmers.

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