|
Natalie wins second gold
Athens - Natalie du Toit, South Africa's star performer at the Athens Paralympics, continued her gold-medal onslaught at the Aquatic Centre with a stunning Paralympic record victory in the 100m freestyle on Monday night.
Du Toit powered her way to a 1min 02.83sec Paralympic record, which adds to the Cape Town swimmer's 100m breaststroke world record gold on Sunday night.
It also beat her 1min 02.92 sec Paralympic record she set in the morning's heats and was short of her 1:02.76 world record she set in Barcelona in 2003.
Du Toit, who had her right leg amputated after a scooter accident in 2003, set the pace from the start and Canada's Stephanie Dixon had no chance as she trailed to silver in 1:05.31, followed by Christiane Reppe of Germany in 1:06.40.
Du Toit said: "It's great to race in front of such a fantastic crowd.
"Today it was quite embarassing for me as well because I was in tears when I finished. The water in the pool washed my tears."
Of her Paralympic experience: "It is amazing so far. I am enjoying myself very much and so is the rest of the team."
Swimmer Scott Field won his second silver at the Aquatic Centre, but Pretoria schoolboy sprinter Oscar Pistorius was the focus of high drama in the Olympic Stadium.
He fell coming out of the start of his 200m heat for leg amputees, then showed mind-blowing speed and tenacity to surge from stone last to victory in a world record 23.42sec for double-amputees.
The 17-year-old Pretoria High pupil cried tears of frustration mingled with relief after his first bitter-sweet Paralympic experience.
|
