Clipmarks | Natalie du toit Clips

Fifth gold for Natalie du Toit at paraolympics

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:21:10 GMT

clipped by: michellezm
clipper's remarks: Wonderful achievement.

South African star swimmer Natalie du Toit won her fifth gold of these games to become the most crowned Paralympian in Beijing.

"I'm just very relieved at the moment. This was probably my toughest race," said the 24-year-old South African, one of only two Paralympians who also took part in the Beijing Olympics.

"To come out and actually achieve the five golds I had set for myself is a big accomplishment. It's been an emotional time for me, so I'm relieved," she added.

The first female amputee to compete in an able-bodied Olympics, du Toit finished 16th among 25 competitors in the 10-kilometer open-water swim last month at the Beijing Games.

Natalie du Toit

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:17:05 GMT

clipped by: cento
clipper's remarks: prepares for 10 km swim

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

South African Amputee races in Olympics after all...

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:07:13 GMT

clipped by: Fast T friend
clipper's remarks: "I was a bit diappointed with my first Olympic race, placing sixteenth is not that bad, but I wanted to come in the top five," she said.

Clip Source: afp.google.com

BEIJING (AFP) — South Africa's Natalie du Toit says she wants to inspire others to realise their dreams after fulfilling her ambition to compete at the Olympic Games despite having her leg amputated seven years ago.

The 24-year-old finished 16th in the women's 10 kilometres marathon swim here on Wednesday, prompting gold medal winner Larisa Ilchenko, from Russia, to insist du Toit deserved a medal just for competing.

Having lost her lower left leg in a motor accident on the way to training in her home city of Cape Town, the South African, who won six medals in the Athens pool at the 2004 Paralympics, said it had been emotional to be an Olympian.

"I think for me to come to an Olympic Games is a dream come true, my message isn't just to disabled people, but to everyone out there - you have to work hard to make your dreams reality.

"You have to keep your dreams and never give them up."

Tags: olympics, swim, natalie du toit, dream, realization

One-Legged Swimmer Takes to Olympic Waters

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:43:15 GMT

clipped by: dulios

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

One-legged swimmer takes to Olympic waters

South Africa's Natalie Du Toit, left, takes a break in training at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing.

BEIJING, China (AP) -- Natalie du Toit looked like any other athlete when she walked into the Bird's Nest, carrying the South African flag at the opening ceremonies.

But now it's time to compete. And when Du Toit takes off her prosthetic left leg Wednesday to vie for a medal in the first open water race in Olympic history, she'll surely be swimming for everyone who's ever struggled with a disability, been told they can't do something, experienced being shuffled off to be with their own kind.

The 24-year-old native of South Africa lost half her left leg in a horrific accident seven years ago, but she refused to let it derail her hopes of competing against the world's best athletes.

Tags: olympics, paralympics, disability