Johannesburg – Young women should find their passion and chase their dreams, cyclist Ashleigh Moolman Pasio said in Johannesburg.
The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist was speaking at the gsport awards ceremony after being crowned Athlete of the Year.
gsport is an online initiative which aims to raise the profile of South African women in sport.
“Although the results and achievements on the bike are very important, what is most important to me is the influence I have on other people's lives through sharing my story, experiences and my successes,” she said.
“So, if there is just one thing I would like to achieve today, it is to inspire young women and girls to find their passion and to chase their dreams.”
Moolman Pasio, who has a degree in chemical engineering, said it was in a speech at her graduation ceremony where she received a similar motivation.
“I was told to find my passion in life and to pursue it and I have a huge passion for cycling,” she said.
“So instead of being a chemical engineer, I am now a pro cyclist.”
South Africa's top-ranked women's road cyclist for the last three years, Moolman Pasio is ranked in the top 30 in the world.
Her ambition is to achieve a top-five world ranking by 2016, to win a World Cup race and to achieve a medal, preferably gold, at Rio 2016.
Banyana Banyana stalwart Portia Modise received special recognition for becoming the first South African footballer Ä male or female – to score 100 international goals.
Modise is the most capped player for Banyana Banyana with 114
caps, having made her national debut at the age of 15.
Other notable awards:
Federation of the Year: Bowls SA
Coach of the Year: Hilton Moreeng (SA women's cricket team)
Woman of the Year: Pearl Mosoane (football administrator)
Up and Coming Athlete of the Year: Lenize Potgieter (netball)
Athlete of the Year with Disability: Justine Asher (cycling) – Sapa