An hour after she had made history at the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday morning, tears welled up in Natalie du Toit’s eyes as she spoke of how much it meant to her to take part.

“When I qualified for the Olympics, I just sat and cried,” Du Toit told a press conference after she finished 16th in the 10km marathon swim this morning.

“But getting here, becoming an Olympian, is a dream I have had since I was six. This is where I have wanted to be for the last 18 years of my life. Now I’ve done it.”

Several dignitaries turned up to watch Du Toit as she became the first amputee swimmer to take part in the Olympic Games.

In the stands at the Shunyi Olympic rowing and canoeing park were International Olympic Committee member Sam Ramsamy, SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee president Moss Mashishi and Du Toit’s former teammate Charlene Wittstock, now retired from the sport and involved in a high-profile romance with Prince Albert of Monaco.

Britain’s Princess Anne was there as well, cheering on English swimmers Keri-Anne Payne and Cassie Patten, who finished second and third behind Larisa Ilchenko of Russia.

Payne was born and schooled in Joburg until her English parents returned to their homeland.

“We’re really good friends with Natalie,” said Patten.

“She told us her story when she came on to the open water circuit, and to hear a story like that can only inspire you. To swim the way she does without one of her legs is incredible.

“I know she’ll be disappointed in how she did, but she will get better.”

Ilchenko felt that Du Toit should get a special medal for competing. But Du Toit probably wouldn’t accept it; she does not do pity or charity, save towards others, and was hard on herself on Wednesday morning.

“I’m a bit upset I didn’t come in the top five. I thought I had a chance of a good swim and a good place,” said Du Toit. “It was a dream for me just to compete and I gave it everything, but I’m glad that the race is over. Things went wrong for me that slowed me down, but the initial pace was incredible.”

While there was no medal, there was a special award for Du Toit from organisers at Shunyi. They presented her with a drawing to commemorate her swim.

Now that she’s done with the Olympics, she will do some sightseeing around Beijing.

“I’ve got to see the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, but then I have to get back in the pool and start training. The Paralympics is coming up and I have to make sure I’m in shape for that.”

She’ll take part in the 100m butterfly, the 100m backstroke, the 200m individual medley and the 50m, 100m and 400m freestyle events.

One dream has been fulfilled, though.

“I was told by a few people after I got out of hospital in 2001 that I would never make the Olympics. I didn’t use that as motivation, but I did keep believing it was possible.”

• • This article was originally published on page 1 of The Star on August 20, 2008