Mcelwa Nchabeleng
Mcelwa Nchabeleng
BEIJING - Five out of five. That is what Natalie du Toit's record read here last night after she rounded off her virtuoso performance with a gold medal in the 50m freestyle in the Paralympics.
South Africa was yesterday placed seventh on the medal table with 24 medals - 17 gold, two silver and five bronze. The Games come to an end on Wednesday.
Du Toit won in a Paralympic record of 29,20 seconds but was under tremendous pressure from Russia's Irina Grazhdanova who grabbed silver in 29,33. Louise Watkin of Great Britain claimed bronze in 29,80.
Du Toit's record in Beijing was 100 percent gold and she could have also grabbed another had she competed in the 100m backstroke like she did in Athens.
But she did not feature in six events in Beijing owing to some administrative glitches by authorities back home.
Du Toit has been trying to play down her omission and last week she stressed that though she was also keen to compete in the backstroke she was nevertheless not bothered by her omission.
She said this would offer her ample time to concentrate on the five events.
"I'm happy with what I have achieved here and am looking forward to the 2012 London Games," said Du Toit who also took part in the Beijing Olympics last month.
Carl Bouwer came fourth in the men's 100m backstroke, Zanele Situ seventh in the women's javelin, David Roos obtained eighth spot in the men's high jump and Marius Stander came last in the men's 200m in other finals last night.
Five gold medals for Natalie du Toit
Mcelwa Nchabeleng
Mcelwa Nchabeleng
BEIJING - Five out of five. That is what Natalie du Toit's record read here last night after she rounded off her virtuoso performance with a gold medal in the 50m freestyle in the Paralympics.
South Africa was yesterday placed seventh on the medal table with 24 medals - 17 gold, two silver and five bronze. The Games come to an end on Wednesday.
Du Toit won in a Paralympic record of 29,20 seconds but was under tremendous pressure from Russia's Irina Grazhdanova who grabbed silver in 29,33. Louise Watkin of Great Britain claimed bronze in 29,80.
Du Toit's record in Beijing was 100 percent gold and she could have also grabbed another had she competed in the 100m backstroke like she did in Athens.
But she did not feature in six events in Beijing owing to some administrative glitches by authorities back home.
Du Toit has been trying to play down her omission and last week she stressed that though she was also keen to compete in the backstroke she was nevertheless not bothered by her omission.
She said this would offer her ample time to concentrate on the five events.
"I'm happy with what I have achieved here and am looking forward to the 2012 London Games," said Du Toit who also took part in the Beijing Olympics last month.
Carl Bouwer came fourth in the men's 100m backstroke, Zanele Situ seventh in the women's javelin, David Roos obtained eighth spot in the men's high jump and Marius Stander came last in the men's 200m in other finals last night.