By Duncan Mackay

South Africa's Natalie du Toit is to receive an honorary MBE from the British High Commission in recognition of her outstanding careerSeptember 27 - South African swimmer Natalie du Toit is to receive one of Britain's highest honours in recognition of her outstanding career, which saw her compete at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.


The British High Commission in Pretoria announced today that du Toit, who retired after London 2012, will be awarded an honorary Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE). 

"I find myself extremely humbled and honoured to be receiving this auspicious award," said du Toit. 

"To those that have made it possible, I thank you for believing in me and by having stayed by my side."

The 29-year-old from Cape Town won 13 gold medals and two silver in the Paralympics during her career.

She also represented South Africa at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, finishing 16th in the open water swim.

South Africe chose du Toit to carry their flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics that year, making her the first athlete to carry a flag in both Olympics and Paralympics in a single year.

Natalie du Toit celebrates one of the three gold medals she won at the London 2012 ParalympicsNatalie du Toit celebrates one of the three gold medals she won at the London 2012 Paralympics

"Natalie has achieved great success in her sport, demonstrating an ability to compete with the best in both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines at numerous international sporting events," said British Acting High Commissioner Martin Reynolds.

"Natalie is an inspiration to up and coming athletes throughout the world and I am delighted she has been recognised for her achievements."

As a teenager, du Toit was a rising star of South African swimming when in 2001 she was hit by a car while riding her scooter back to school after swimming practice, which resulted in her left leg being amputated below the knee.

Incredibly, the following year she was back in the pool and competing in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

She qualified for the 800 metres freestyle final - the first time in history that an athlete with disability had qualified for the final of an able-bodied event - and also won gold in the multi-disability 50m and 100m freestyle, both in world record times.

It led to her winning the David Dixon Award for the Outstanding Athlete of the Games at the Closing Ceremony.

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