Natalie du Toit of South Africa was nominated for the prestigious 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards that will be awarded on March 10th.
Natalie is among the nominees for the World Sportsman of the Year with a Disability based on her 21st place finish in the 5K and her 38th place finish in the 10K at the 2009 World Swimming Championships. Her nomination in part reads, “History was made in 2008 when Natalie du Toit competed in Beijing in both the Olympic Games AND the Paralympic Games. She was the toast of South Africa after winning five gold medals.”
“In 2009, she kept up her remarkable performances and continued to dominate able-bodied and disabled swimming in South Africa. In December she was presented with the order of Ikhamanga In Gold, by President Zuma, the highest honour any South African athlete can receive.”
The goals of Laureus World Sports Awards includes recognizing the achievements of today’s sports heroes and supporting a message that can help social projects around the world who are using sport as a tool for social change.
Laureus comprises the Laureus World Sports Academy, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and the Laureus World Sports Awards. Collectively, these three elements form the essence of Laureus, harnessing the power of sport to promote social change and celebrating sporting excellence.
While Natalie is indeed one of the world greatest athletes with a disability, we know that Natalie views herself as simply an athlete – who aims just as high as able-bodied athletes who she competes with shoulder-to-shoulder and goggle-to-goggle.
She certainly has our vote.
Copyright © 2010 by Steven Munatones