-- Natalie du Toit . Natalie experienced a tragic scooter accident at age 16 causing her to lose part of one of her legs. British Charge d’Affaires in South Africa Martin Reynolds said:
Having competed at the Kuala Lumpur Games in 1998 as an able bodied athlete at the age of 14, she lost her leg in a motorcycle accident in 2001. The UK is proud to have helped shaped Natalie’s career. 800 m freestyle swimming gold medal – All-Africa Games (2003)
https://www.guestspeaker.co.za/speaker_detail.php?speakerID=70 They are Natalie du Toit and Catherine Constantinides. She is available to schools, companies and other groups who may benefit from her talks. 200 m SM9 individual medley swimming gold medal – Paralympics (2008)
#Water #Going Out #Feels “I don't think of myself as being disabled, or able-bodied.”-- Natalie du Toit . 100 m freestyle swimming EAD (multi-disability) gold – Commonwealth Games (2006)
Natalie is an inspiration to up and coming athletes throughout the world and I am delighted she has been recognised for her achievements”presented to Natalie at a ceremony by HRH The Earl of Wessex early in October in Pretoria. 800 m freestyle swimming silver medal – Afro-Asian Games (2003)
400 m freestyle swimming bronze medal – Afro-Asian Games (2003)
She achieved her goal, swimming into a creditable eighth place in the able bodied 800m Freestyle, and winning gold in the 50 and 100m Elite Athletes with a Disability (EAD) events. 100 m S9 butterfly swimming gold medal – Paralympics (2004)
Natalie Du Toit. It’s important to swim your own race and not some-one else’s, and that is exactly what this remarkable South African swimmer has been doing. She is one of the most recognisable faces and names in sport and public life in South Africa. 50 m freestyle swimming EAD (multi-disability) gold – Commonwealth Games (2002)
Having competed at the Kuala Lumpur Games in 1998 as an able bodied athlete at the age of 14, she lost her Natalie’s story has become an inspiration for many people in South Africa and“I find myself extremely humbled and honoured to be receiving this auspicious award. NATALIE DU TOIT Natalie du Toit is one of the most successful disabled athletes of all times, and an inspiration to many. We felt inspired as they responded sincerely to questions relating to the highs and lows of their lives to date.
Her attitude should be an inspiration to us all.” On 10 March, 2010, she was awarded the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability for “breaking down the barriers between disabled and able-bodied sport”
In December 2009 she received the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold “for her exceptional achievements in swimming.”
“Natalie has achieved great success in her sport, demonstrating an ability to compete with the best in both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines at numerous international sporting events. Natalie du Toit was chosen by South Africa's Olympic Committee to carry their flag during the opening ceremonies of the summer Olympic games in Beijing. The inspiration each one of you have been to me; The values that each one of you carried out, never wavering; these have all culminated in having this specific honour being bestowed. Her Majesty The Queen has announced that South African Olympic and Paralympic medal winning swimmer Natalie du Toit has been awarded an honorary MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for her services to Paralympic sport. Du Toit was voted 48th in the Top 100 Great South Africans in 2004 by the South African Broadcasting Corporation. Natalie du Toit. 100 m S9 freestyle swimming gold medal – Paralympics (2004)
My story is a personal journey of how I have learnt to face my good and bad situations and deal with it in a manner that I understand would be the best. The British honours system is one of the oldest in the world. She retired after the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games after winning 3 Gold and 1 Silver medals. Natalie du Toit was able to finish in fourth place, and this qualified her to participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympics against able-bodied athletes. Despite this setback, she was determined to compete at the Manchester Games both as an able bodied and disabled competitor just to prove it could be done.