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Natalie du Toit left leg was amputated below the knee in 2001. She has gone on to compete against – and often beat – able-bodied swimmers at the highest level.
At 16, she nearly qualified for the 2000 Sydney Olympics in three events. People sensed great things were in store for the strong, determined swimmer; in 2004, Athens would become her playground.
Then in 2001, those plans abruptly changed. Having completed her morning workout, Natalie eased her motor scooter into Monday rush-hour traffic and headed to school.
Just down the street from her pool, a careless driver exiting a parking lot ran directly into Natalie’s left leg. The scene was gruesome; the devastation was immediately obvious: “I kept saying, ‘I’ve lost my leg, I’ve lost my leg“. Her team mates rushed to her. Traffic snarled. The scene: total, horrible chaos. A motorcycle policeman racing to the accident crashed headfirst into a truck and had to be airlifted to a hospital.
The tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goals;
the tragedy of life lies in not having goals to reach for.
It is not a disgrace not to reach for the stars,
but it is a disgrace not to have stars to reach for.
‘Swim your own race!’
What Natalie du Toit has done (and is still busy doing) to overcome her adversity and the lessons she’s learned along the way, she believes holds true regardless of one’s age, sex, race, religion, nationality or financial standing. It all comes from self-belief – an exceptionally powerful tool, if we could just learn how to use it correctly every day.
Since her accident, Natalie du Toit switched to longer events – from 200m and 400m individual medley to 800m and 1 500m freestyle – to make up for her loss of speed with only one leg. But she made no adjustment to her mental outlook!
Since then, she has become one of the most successful disabled athletes of all times and an inspiration to many!
Natalie du Toit goal was to compete as an able-bodied swimmer at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. This goal materialized on the 20 August 2008, when she competed in the 10km ladies open water marathon, in Shunyi.
The five Gold Medals at the 2008 Paralympic Games made Natalie du Toit the most successful athlete in South Africa. She was further awarded the Whan Youn Dai Achievement Award.
This award is presented to 2 athletes, one male and one female athlete and is given to people with disability who have achieved excellence through exceptional performances in sport and life.
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Harry Sideropoulos is an award-winning stage actor, singer, voice- over artist, speaker, business man and foodie, celebrating over 20 years on stage. He started his public career many years ago on 94, 7 Highveld Stereo’s Rude Awakening Breakfast Show and soon became an integral part of the show for 6 successful years, before resigning to […]
Paddy Upton stands at the intersection of sports, psychology, and leadership, a dynamic figure whose influence transcends boundaries. Renowned as an acclaimed speaker, Head Coach in international cricket, mental coach to professional athletes across various sports and countries, and a distinguished university Professor, Upton’s journey embodies the essence of innovation and excellence. With a career […]
John Smit was one of International Rugby’s most successful Captains and players of all time. He was the captain of the Springboks, the South African Rugby team (ending his career with 111 Springbok caps), leading the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007 and was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011. After ending his rugby career […]
Michael Scholz is an accomplished speaker and has MC’d hundreds of events over the past few years. He has also assisted a number of auction memorabilia companies with incorporating and auctioning auction items at golf days and fundraising events. Michael Scholz is a professional golfer and current member of the Sunshine Tour. In the past, […]
Dr Kobus Neethling holds six degrees including two Masters, a Doctorates and Post-Doctorate (cum laude) in the identification and development of creative behaviour (Universities of Cape Town and Georgia-USA) Dr Kobus Neethling has written more than 80 books and 9 TV series including a number of international best-sellers (Including three new international best-sellers: ‘Creativity uncovered’; […]
Corne Krige is a former Springbok rugby captain and the owner of an outdoor advertising company and author of his autobiography, Right Place at the Wrong Time. Born in Zambia, where his parents still live, Corné was schooled in South Africa at Paarl Boys High. He currently lives in Cape Town with his wife and […]
Kim van Kets grew up in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape, studied law at Stellenbosch University, was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of RSA and spent many years in legal practice and the corporate world both in RSA and abroad. She is currently self-employed as a legal consultant/ corporate trainer, […]
Sara-Jayne King is a mixed-race South African/British journalist and radio presenter whose career has taken her across the globe in search of remarkable stories and fascinating characters. Her career began as a junior journalist in local radio in London and since then has included roles in the Middle East and Africa, most recently as a […]
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