List of Famous people born in Free State, South Africa

Willem Abraham Viljoen is a South African badminton player. He competed for South Africa at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, and at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. At the All-African Games, he has collected 2 golds and six silvers. Her sister Annari Viljoen also the Olympian who was competed in London 2012.

John Van Eyssen was a South African born actor, agent and film production executive. He moved to Britain following the Second World War, attending the Central School of Speech and Drama. In 1951 and in 1954 he played the role of Lucifer in the York Cycle of Mystery Plays, first revived in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain.

Jovica Rujević is a Serbian male badminton player, and a former South Africa national badminton team. In 1996, he was the semi finalist at the South Africa International tournament in the men's doubles event with Dave Calvert. In 2013, he reach the final round at the Botswana International tournament in the men's doubles event partnered with Andries Malan. The duo became the runner-up after defeated by the Slovenian pair in the rubber game. At the Balkan Badminton Championships, he won the bronze medal in the mixed team event. He and Malan also the semi finalist at the 2016 South Africa International tournament. He also play for the Novi Sad badminton club, and in 2013 he won the men's and mixed doubles title at the Vojvodina Championship, and also became the runner-up in the men's singles event.

Christoffel Cornelius Dednam is a badminton player from South Africa. Dednam was the gold medallists at the 2003 All-Africa Games in the mixed doubles event, and in 2007 in the men's doubles event. He competed at the 2004, 2008 Olympic Games, and at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Dednam played badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics in men's singles, losing in the round of 32 to Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand. He also competed in mixed doubles with partner Antoinette Uys. They lost to Tsai Chia-Hsin and Cheng Wen-Hsing of Chinese Taipei in the round of 32. At the 2008 Olympics, he played in the men's doubles event with his brother Roelof Dednam, but the duo was defeated by Howard Bach and Khan Bob Malaythong of United States in the first round.

Colin Fraser Steyn was a lawyer and a politician of Southern Africa, Member of the House of Assembly, Senator, and Cabinet Minister in the government of Jan Smuts.

Olga Kirsch was a South African and Israeli poet.

Annari Viljoen is a South African badminton player. In 2011, she won double title at the All-Africa Games in the women's and mixed doubles event, also won the silver medal in the team event. She competed at the 2012 Olympics in the doubles with Michelle Edwards, and made it to the quarter-finals.

Amanda Coetzer is a South African former professional tennis player. Coetzer finished in the WTA rankings top 20 for ten consecutive seasons (1992–2001), peaking at world No. 3. She reached three Grand Slam semifinals and one Grand Slam doubles final. Coetzer earned a reputation for regularly beating players who were ranked higher than she. By virtue of scoring so many upset wins in spite of her five-foot-two (1.58m) stature, she gained the nickname: "The Little Assassin".

Roelof Jakobus Dednam is a male badminton player from South Africa. Dednam played badminton at the 2008 Summer Olympics in men's doubles with Chris Dednam, losing in the round of 16 to Howard Bach and Bob Malaythong of the United States.

Christiaan Rudolf de Wet was a Boer general, rebel leader and politician.