Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
South Africa Highly Cited Researchers Citation Education / Physical Education and Sport Science in South Africa Rankings 2025
The Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) highlight the most cited and influential researchers across a vast range of scientific fields, covering 197 main and sub-disciplines, including the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings. This service, offered exclusively by AD Scientific Index, aims to provide a balanced perspective by excluding data from CERN and other statistical sources that disproportionately favor certain researchers, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. This unique approach addresses the advantages researchers with multi-author publications and CERN involvement hold over others. Furthermore, citation rankings help uncover rule violations and unethical practices within the research community. For more detailed citation analyses, explore the Scientists Last 6 Years Citation Index, Universities Total Citations Rankings 2025, and Universities Last 6 Years Citations Rankings 2025.
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :1
Physical activity
bone health
body composition
metabolic disease
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
6,908
4,572
0.662
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :2
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
6,566
5,646
0.860
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :3
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
6,035
4,998
0.828
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :4
Sport Chiropractic
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,071
1,514
0.299
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :5
Sport science
Physical Education
Epidemiology
Public Health
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,176
1,325
0.417
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :6
![Rachel [Ranel] Venter|Rachel Venter, RE Venter, Rachel Ranel Venter](https://cdn.adscientificindex.com/pictures/15/5724555.jpg)
Sport Science
Recovery and well-being in athletes
Barefoot
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,771
2,102
0.759
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :7
Physical Activity
Fitness
Body composition and Health
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,889
1,148
0.608
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :8
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,446
866
0.599
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :9
Physical Activity
Infant movement behaviours
Growth and development
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,240
1,078
0.869
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :10
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,206
988
0.819
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :11
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,155
731
0.633
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :12
Sports Science and Public Health
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,059
466
0.440
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :13
Exercise Science
Health Promotion
Wellness
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
930
575
0.618
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :14
Sport Science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
803
507
0.631
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :15
Exercise
Sport Science
Rehabilitation Science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
775
367
0.474
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :16
Medicine
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
675
442
0.655
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :17
sport and exercise medicine
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
657
539
0.820
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :18
Sport Coaching
Injury prevention
Skills development
Performance analysis (team sports
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
569
448
0.787
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :19
Public health
physical activity for health
physical education
sport medicine
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
471
452
0.960
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :20
Physical Activity Epidemiology
Exercise Science
Exercise Physiology
Sport Science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
457
236
0.516
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :21
indigenous games
olympic studies
physical education
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
421
323
0.767
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :22
Sports management
community development
sports education
events
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
368
200
0.543
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :23
Sport Physiology
Biomechanics
Sport Science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
200
123
0.615
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :24
Sport Science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
183
121
0.661
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :25
Sports Coaching
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
175
144
0.823
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
148,315
586
75
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Lisa Micklesfield
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
6,908
4,572
0.662
Physical activity
bone health
body composition
metabolic disease
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
156,383
612
13
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Diederik J Opperman
University of the Free State
Bloemfontein, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
6,566
5,646
0.860
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
170,353
682
84
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Catherine Draper
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
6,035
4,998
0.828
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
202,039
837
12
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Henry Pollard
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,071
1,514
0.299
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
307,869
1,365
19
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Abel Toriola
Tshwane University of Technology
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,176
1,325
0.417
Sport science
Physical Education
Epidemiology
Public Health
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
344,161
1,557
200
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Rachel [Ranel] Venter|Rachel Venter, RE Venter, Rachel Ranel Venter
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,771
2,102
0.759
Sport Science
Recovery and well-being in athletes
Barefoot
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
458,894
2,187
98
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Monyeki MA
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,889
1,148
0.608
Physical Activity
Fitness
Body composition and Health
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
547,916
2,680
327
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Elmarie Terblanche
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,446
866
0.599
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
601,214
3,012
316
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Alessandra Prioreschi
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,240
1,078
0.869
Physical Activity
Infant movement behaviours
Growth and development
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
611,137
3,080
108
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Lloyd Leach
University of the Western Cape
Bellville, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,206
988
0.819
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
626,585
3,152
389
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Rachel Elizabeth Venter
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,155
731
0.633
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
657,869
3,330
46
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Sacha West
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,059
466
0.440
Sports Science and Public Health
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
704,476
3,598
240
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Yoga Coopoo
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
930
575
0.618
Exercise Science
Health Promotion
Wellness
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
757,047
3,918
207
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Ben Coetzee
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
803
507
0.631
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
769,421
4,002
311
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Johan Van Heerden
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
775
367
0.474
Exercise
Sport Science
Rehabilitation Science
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
816,878
4,289
331
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Mazibuko
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
675
442
0.655
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
825,878
4,341
431
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Demitri Constantinou
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
657
539
0.820
sport and exercise medicine
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
872,638
4,651
540
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Wilbur Kraak
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
569
448
0.787
Sport Coaching
Injury prevention
Skills development
Performance analysis (team sports
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
942,182
5,130
65
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Siphesihle Nqweniso
Nelson Mandela University
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
471
452
0.960
Public health
physical activity for health
physical education
sport medicine
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
954,892
5,229
40
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Ian Cook
University of Limpopo
Mankweng, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
457
236
0.516
Physical Activity Epidemiology
Exercise Science
Exercise Physiology
Sport Science
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
987,739
5,518
406
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Charl J Roux
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
421
323
0.767
indigenous games
olympic studies
physical education
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,042,059
5,983
829
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
David Maralack
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
368
200
0.543
Sports management
community development
sports education
events
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,295,728
8,204
870
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Lara Grobler
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
200
123
0.615
Sport Physiology
Biomechanics
Sport Science
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,333,362
8,529
286
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Barry Andrews
University of the Western Cape
Bellville, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
183
121
0.661
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,352,087
8,692
704
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Morris-Eyton
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
175
144
0.823