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Most Famous South African Athletes

Sports 256
South Africa 631
3,090 OP Oscar Pistorius Oscar Pistorius South African Athletic b. 1986
13,539 CS Caster Semenya Caster Semenya South African Runner b. 1991
26,607 FP Francois Pienaar Francois Pienaar South African Player b. 1967
41,054 JS Jody Scheckter Jody Scheckter South African Driver b. 1950
50,616 VM Victor Matfield Victor Matfield South African Player b. 1977
51,856 TR Tokelo Rantie Tokelo Rantie South African Football b. 1990
52,039 LO Louis Oosthuizen Louis Oosthuizen South African Golf b. 1982
54,695 KD Kagisho Dikgacoi Kagisho Dikgacoi South African Football b. 1984
55,350 TG Tony Greig South African Cricket 1946–2012
55,868 PM Percy Montgomery Percy Montgomery South African Player b. 1974
60,152 MM May Mahlangu May Mahlangu South African Football b. 1989
70,497 MM Mbulaeni Mulaudzi Mbulaeni Mulaudzi South African Runner 1980–2014
70,640 KM Kamohelo Mokotjo Kamohelo Mokotjo South African Football b. 1991
71,136 KM Katlego Mphela South African Football b. 1984
74,011 JK Jacques Kallis Jacques Kallis South African Cricket b. 1975
74,177 CD Cliff Drysdale Cliff Drysdale South African Player b. 1941
74,925 OD Os du Randt Os du Randt South African Player b. 1972
78,511 LV Lars Veldwijk Lars Veldwijk South African Football b. 1991
79,848 AS Akani Simbine South African Athletic b. 1993
87,442 DC Danie Craven Danie Craven South African Player 1910–1993
91,307 HV Hans Vonk (footballer) South African Football b. 1970
94,596 HG Herschelle Gibbs Herschelle Gibbs South African Player b. 1974
98,095 RJ Reinardt Janse van Rensburg Reinardt Janse van Rensburg South African Sport b. 1989
105,130 DS Dale Steyn Dale Steyn South African Cricket b. 1983
106,442 FS François Steyn François Steyn South African Player b. 1987
107,022 AC Amanda Coetzer Amanda Coetzer South African Player b. 1971
110,814 ZK Zane Kirchner South African Player b. 1984
114,421 KM Ken McArthur Ken McArthur South African Runner 1881–1960
116,935 BB Bakkies Botha Bakkies Botha South African Player b. 1979
117,641 BD Bismarck du Plessis Bismarck du Plessis South African Player b. 1984
117,730 JK Johan Kriek South African Player b. 1958
120,372 RK Raven Klaasen Raven Klaasen South African Player b. 1982
123,006 SS Siyabonga Sangweni South African Football b. 1981
123,367 DN David Nyathi South African Football b. 1969
128,139 AJ Andile Jali South African Football b. 1990
129,383 CS Chanelle Scheepers Chanelle Scheepers South African Player b. 1984
129,582 TM Thabo Matlaba South African Football b. 1987
130,604 NM Nick Mallett Nick Mallett South African Player b. 1956
132,076 SM Surprise Moriri South African Football b. 1980
137,836 OM Oupa Manyisa South African Football b. 1988
137,904 ES Eudy Simelane South African Football 1977–2008
146,162 BB Brian Baloyi Brian Baloyi South African Football b. 1974
147,145 BB Brad Binder Brad Binder South African Racer b. 1995
151,158 NB Naas Botha Naas Botha South African Player b. 1958
152,263 BZ Bongani Zungu Bongani Zungu South African Football b. 1992
153,800 JF Jaque Fourie Jaque Fourie South African Player b. 1983
155,007 JT Josia Thugwane South African Runner b. 1971
157,699 JF Jacques Freitag South African Athletic b. 1982
160,737 JP JP Pietersen JP Pietersen South African Player b. 1986
161,574 MM Mandla Masango South African Football b. 1989
See all 152,953 rankings →

Ranked by cross-verified academic notability — how it works

By the numbers

Inside South Africa Athletes

256 notable people in this slice of the dataset.

Through the Decades

One face per decade — the most globally famous south africa athletes born in each.

Notable Births by Decade

Notable births among South Africa Athletes peaked in the 1980s with 85 people.

What South Africa Athletes Are Known For

Click any row to drill into that filter.

Player are South Africa Athletes's biggest group — 36% of all notables (93).

South Africa Athletes over-index on player — 39.0× the global rate.

  1. Player93
  2. Football70
  3. Cricket40
  4. Athletic10
  5. Boxer10
  6. Runner7
  7. Sport6
  8. Golf4
  1. Player9339.0×
  2. Cricket4019.1×
  3. Runner710.3×
  4. Boxer109.9×
  5. Athletic104.1×
  6. Football703.0×

City Hot Spots

Cities that over-produce South Africa Athletes compared to the world average — multiplier shows how much more.