Beyond the Boks: SA world champions from other codes

Understandably, rugby gets all the headlines, but a history of SA world champions runs much wider than that. From motorsport (four and two wheels) to surfing, boxing, athletics and swimming, it’s not DNA, just RSA …

SA WORLD CHAMPIONS BEYOND RUGBY

• Jody Scheckter, Formula One (1979). The only South African to win the F1 drivers’ title, taking it with Ferrari. The tifosi would have to wait nearly two decades before one Michael Schumacher brought the glory back.  
• Kork Ballington, motorcycle Grand Prix (1978 and 1979). Won both the 250cc and 350cc world titles in 1978 and again in 1979, four championships in two seasons. He was born in Rhodesia but raced as a South African.
• Jon Ekerold, 350cc motorcycle Grand Prix (1980). Won the title as a privateer, deciding it at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
• Brad Binder, Moto3 (2016). Won the Moto3 world title and later became the first South African to win a MotoGP race, at Brno in 2020.

SURFING

• Shaun Tomson, International Professional Surfers (1977). Became world champion in 1977 and is remembered for his ahead-of-its time tube-riding style. Will forever be remembered as the one of the group that ‘bust down the door’ for surfing to become professional.
• Wendy Botha, ISA Women’s World Championship (1987). Won the women’s title in 1987 as a South African, before later competing for Australia.

BOXING

• Gerrie Coetzee (1983). The “Boksburg Bomber” knocked out Michael Dokes in the 10th round to win the WBA heavyweight title, becoming the first African to hold it.
• Brian Mitchell (1986 to 1992). Held the WBA super featherweight title for five years with 12 successful defences, and retired as unbeaten SA world champions.
• Corrie Sanders (2003). Stopped Wladimir Klitschko in round two to win the WBO heavyweight title.
• Baby Jake Matlala (1993). The smallest and most beloved boxer to ever become a world champion, he won titles across the lowest weight divisions, including the WBO flyweight title in 1993.

ATHLETICS

• Wayde van Niekerk, 400m (2015 and 2017). Won back-to-back world titles, then sensationally broke Michael Johnson’s world record in Rio with 43.03.
• Caster Semenya, 800m. Won world titles over 800m, including in London in 2017 in 1:55.16.
• Luvo Manyonga, long jump (2017). Took gold in London with a leap of 8.48m.

SWIMMING

• Chad le Clos. Has four long-course and 12 short-course world titles, including the 100m and 200m butterfly at Barcelona in 2013.
• Tatjana Schoenmaker (now Smith), 200m breaststroke (2023). Won world gold in Fukuoka in 2:20.80. Has since defected to the Netherlands.
• Chad Ho, 5km open water (2015). Won world gold in Kazan.

WHY IT MATTERS

Many of these titles came during or just after the sporting boycott, when SA world champions often had to leave to train and compete. Together they show that the nation’s grit, determination and world-class talent goes well beyond the oval ball.

But what do you think? Are there any SA world champions we neglected to mention? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below …