Natalie du Toit was named winner of the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award on Tuesday at the Paralympic Games in Beijing.
Dr Whang Youn Dai, after whom the award is named, will present the award to Du Toit and the male winner, Said Gomez of Panama, at the closing ceremony on Wednesday.
Du Toit, who won five gold medals for the second consecutive Paralympics, was given the award after nominations were received from the chefs de mission of 24 countries, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and members of the press corps.
She was especially commended for her involvement with the Vista Nova School in Cape Town, a school for children with cerebral palsy and learning disabilities.
Du Toit paid tribute to Whang at a press conference on Tuesday, saying it was always gratifying to be recognised by someone who was a great inspiration and had made a difference throughout the world.
She invoked the words of former president Nelson Mandela, who famously said sport had the power to change the world: “I thank Dr Whang for giving me the opportunity to give something back to the community,” she said.
She also thanked the South African team for the support she had received in becoming the first amputee athlete to compete in the Olympics as well as the Paralympics, and she thanked the IPC and the people of Beijing for the remarkable event the city had staged.
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