Inspirational sportspersons with disabilities

#1 Natalie du Toit

Natalie du Toit

This South African began swimming at the age of fourteen. Unfortunately, a couple of years later, her left leg had to be amputated after a road accident.

The 2002 Commonwealth Games was her breakthrough event. Aged 18, she set the multi-disability world record in 50m and 100m freestyle and also qualified for the 800m freestyle able-bodied final. She was recognized as the Outstanding Athlete of the Games.

Though she missed out on competing with able-bodied swimmers in 2004, she achieved it in 2008. Natalie managed to finish the 10km freestyle race in 16th place. In the Paralympics that year, she also won five gold medals.

Natalie retired from competitive swimming at the end of the London Olympics, 2012, having won more than 30 medals in various competitions throughout her career.

“I don’t think of myself as being disabled, or able-bodied. Going out there in the water, I feel there is nothing wrong with me”, she says. That’s how you define positive attitude!

All these athletes shared a common vision – to be able to be considered able enough to compete against abled-ones. They didn’t want to be looked at with a sorry face. They refused to acknowledge anything wrong with the way they were. Instead, they became inspirations for others sharing the discomforts as them.

Such tales make us truly appreciate the gift of four limbs that God has given us. For the not so fortunate ones, they also show that all is not lost; there is enough reason for optimism.