Friday, Oct 23, 2009
Gulf News
Ajman Marathon swimming is a tough sport, but it is even tougher for an athlete with a disability to compete when the rest of the field comprises able-bodied competitors.
It was the same for Natalie Du Toit as she took stroke after stroke to the finish. South African Du Toit didn't win.
In fact, she was nowhere close to the top, but by completing in the final round of the 2009 Fina 10-km Marathon Swimming World Cup in Ajman, Du Toit proved the human spirit is much tougher than most of us think it is.
Eight years back, things were different for Du Toit, an amputee. She could do things like everybody else (don't try telling her otherwise now!), until that fateful day in 2001 arrived, when she got on her bike to get home after training. Her motorcycle was hit by a car and her left leg was so badly damaged, that the only option left was for it to be amputated at the knee.
Du Toit was back on her feet three months after the accident and eight years later, even when most of her able-bodied counterparts asked for the towel mid-way through the race, Du Toit soldiered on to the finish. She swam a good race, but had her own reasons for dubbing it a "terrible one" later. Still for those of us watching from the sands of the Hamriya Beach it was a "great" show, an achievement of epic proportions indeed!
Catching breath
Following her swim, Du Toit didn't walk back to dry land immediately. She dallied in the seawater and caught her breath close to the finishing boards, while a member of the South African team arrived with her prosthetic leg.
Du Toit didn't conquer and the race was won by Brazil's Poliana Okimoto, but on the broad divide that differentiates between the go-getters and the no-hopers, her feat meant more than just a gold medal-winning performance.
The 25 year old has represented South Africa in the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2004 and 2008 Paralympics in Athens and Beijing respectively.
With four Commonwealth and 10 Paralympic golds to her name already, she can probably dubbed Michael Phelps of disabled female swimmers. But still, the all-conquering South African does not considers herself to be as invincible Phelps.
Ajman was the last round of this year's 10km series, but her break will be limited as she turns her attention to more training for a busy 2010 when she will once again take to the indoor lanes to defend her Commonwealth crown.
Despite the terrible downturn in her fortunes, Du Toit says has always looked at life with much optimism.
"Swimming is a tough sport, but I love the spirit of competition and I love competing just so that I can challenge myself and push myself to achieve things."
By Duane Fonseca, Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2009. All rights reserved.
