Swimmer Natalie Du Toit has made history by becoming the first athlete in history to be selected to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Speaking at a press conference, President of SASCOC Moss Mashishi said that Du Toit’s inclusion in the team was welcomed, and the whole of South Africa was behind her.
“Natalie's achievement is tremendous by any standard. We are immensely proud of her and I'm not sure if she recognises just how historic it is. She has put our country on the map in a way which has never been done before,” he said.
Du Toit, who lost her left leg in a scooter accident, became the first athlete with a disability to qualify in the able-bodied Games after finishing fourth in the world open water championships in Seville, Spain in May.
The event in which Du Toit will compete is considered one of the most challenging aquatic events. “It’s the marathon of swimming,” she told Business Day.
Du Toit currently swims between 13 - 17 km a day in preparation for the demanding event, a work rate that will have to increase to 20km a day between now and August, she told the paper.
South African double-amputee track athlete Oscar Pistorius recently won an arbitration case that will allow him to compete in able-bodied sporting events, despite his prosthetic legs. However Pistorius has not yet qualified for the Olympic Games as his current personal best time stands at 46.33, well short of the Olympic qualifying time of 45.55.
In a statement released by SASCOC, Mashishi expressed his admiration for both Du Toit and Pistorius.
“In these two athletes we recognise the human capacity to reach beyond impediment, and the strive of the human spirit to excel and succeed beyond all odds.”
Du Toit was chosen for South Africa’s aquatic team alongside Chad Ho. The final announcement for Team South Africa will take place on July 10th.
