7. Less than two years after her accident, she qualified for the finals of the
800 meter freestyle at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, marking the first
time an amputee raced in the finals of an able-bodied international
swimming competition.
8. In 2003, competing against able-bodied swimmers, Du Toit won gold in
the 800 meters freestyle at the All- Africa Games a silver in the 800 meter
freestyle and bronze in the 400 meter freestyle at the Afro-Asian Games.
9. At the 2004 Athens Paralympics, she won 5 gold medals and one silver
medal.
10. In 2008, Natalie achieved her dreams by competing in 10 km open swim
at the Beijing Olympics. She is the first to compete in both the Olympics
and Paralympics, breaking the barrier between disabled and able-
bodied swimmers.
11. Natalie swimming the10 km open water race for the 2008 Beijing
Olympics. She placed 16th
.
12.
13. Natalie also competed in the 2008 Paralympics. She won 5 gold medals,
dominating every race she swam in.
14. For both the 2008 Olympics and Paralympics, Du Toit was chosen to carry
the South African flag for the opening ceremony.
15. She is the first athlete ever to carry the flags at both competitions.
16. Natalie swam her last Commonwealth Games in 2010. There, she won 3
gold medals.
17. Her last major swim competition was the 2012 London Paralympics.
19. With the 2012 Paralympics as her last competition, she ended her career
with a total of 13 gold medals and two silver medals.
20. Along with her medals, she has won several awards and honors for her
achievements in swimming and breaking down the barrier between
disabled and able- bodied sports.
21. After retiring from swim, Natalie travels as a motivational speaker,
sharing her story and what she has learned along the way.
22. She shares her life’s journey with audiences of all ages and has truly
become an inspiration for many people, not only in South Africa, but all
over the world.
