Don't know how many of you know this. du Toit symbolises Olympic spirit
L Subramani As swimmers at the 10 km inaugural 'Open Water Swimming' event in Beijing started crossing the first lap, the winner wasn't clear. Eventually the race was won by Russian Larisa Ilchenko who took the first ever gold medal in Olympics for the event, but the true winner finished the race far below -at the 16th position. Natalie du Toit may not have climbed the podium and grinned before the flashing cameras, but the South African 24-year-old has achieved something more than winning a medal: to inspire everyone. If real triumph is not to give up, but live out one's dream, then du Toit has certainly achieved more than anyone who walked away from the water. After all, how many athletes can boast of swimming with just one leg? She dreamed of competing at the Olympics aged just six and slowly got used to movement in water. In fact, she was on the verge of qualifying for the 2000 Olympics aged just 16. That she narrowly missed her qualification would have only strengthened her determination, but du Toit had to handle tragedy of a different kind. In 2001, as she was walking down the street where her pool was located (in Cape Town), a hasty car ran into her as it reversed from a parking lot, leaving her left leg broken. Attempts to save her leg didn't prove successful and the doctors had to finally amputate her left leg below the knee. IN a success-obsessed world where people deflate at the sight of failures and disappointments, many in du Toit's position would have felt bitter of such a tragedy, listened to the consoling voices and would have given up a career in swimming for something more accommodative. For someone like du Toit, whose life is defined by that Olympics dream, that would have amounted to heresy. So she continued to follow it. Suddenly, those who observed her amputated leg with pity, gaped in astonishment to see her set faster speeds in swimming marathon. "Swimming is my passion, it lets me be free," du Toit told The Hindu as she qualified for Beijing Olympics earlier this year. She was also the first woman amputee to have qualified for Commonwealth 800 metres freestyle event in 2002. Having lived out her dream once in the main event, she is not going to rest, but prepare for the Paralympics that is to follow the main Olympics. du Toit's story tells us what passion can do to people. That failures in life occur more in the mind and sweat doesn't merely drain in water. That it needs a braver heart to stay on than to quit and pursuing one's dream is the greatest triumph in life than fame or fortune. If the Olympics is about spirits than mere medals, the disabled woman in water has shown what that spirit is. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of prateek aggarwal Sent: Friday, August 22, 2008 5:25 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [AI] cuban sports deligation to beijing cuban sports deligation to beijing A thirty-two strong Cuban delegation departed for China to participate in the Paralympic Games, scheduled to take place September 6-17 in the capital Beijing. The Cuban delegation is made up of members of the Cuban Association of the Physically Impaired (ACLIFIM) and the Cuban Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired (ANCI).. The Cuban athletes will compete in athletics, judo, table tennis, weight lifting and swimming. The list of Cuban sports people include Yunidis Castillo, two-time world champ in 100 and 200 meters in the category of physically impaired, and Omara Duran, two-time world champ in the category of visually impaired. Cuba has had an active participation in the Paralympics after having garnered gold, silver and bronze medals in such events, held in Sydney (2000), Atlanta (1996), Barcelona (1992). / ACN regards, prateek agarwal. cell: 09928341197 e-mails: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- you can visit my website for lots of stuff related to visually impaired and others. please go on to www.prateekagarwal.webs.com Join Access India convention: For updates on it visit: http://accessindia.org.in/harish/convention.htm Registration is now open! To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n Join Access India convention: For updates on it visit: http://accessindia.org.in/harish/convention.htm Registration is now open! To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
