Natalie du Toit continued her relentless form at the IPC World Swimming Championships on Wednesday evening, winning her fourth gold medal at the King’s Park Aquatic Centre.
Swimming in the women’s S9 400m freestyle, the 22-year-old beat rival Stephanie Dixon for the fourth time this week, missing out on her own world record by just four seconds.
The South African won the race in a time of four minutes 27,76 seconds, a full 18,55 seconds ahead of Canadian Dixon (4mins 45,21) and her teammate, Darda Geiger (4mins 53,53secs).
”I’m very happy with my race. It was the fastest swim I’ve ever done in a disabled 400m freestyle. My 4mins 23,96secs was done competing with able-bodied swimmers, so I’m happy with the achievement,” Du Toit explained.
”I’m a little bit stiff and it’s becoming a long week, but I’m still motivated and enjoying it,” she added.
Du Toit still has two events to race this week. She will be looking for her fifth gold medal at these championships in the women’s S9 50m freestyle on Thursday, and she then competes in the 5km open-water swim on Friday at the Hazelmere Dam.
Tiaan du Plessis was the only other South African to swim in a final on Wednesday night.
Competing in the men’s S8 400m freestyle, Du Plessis finished seventh, with China’s Xiaofu Wang winning gold in a world-record time of 4mins 33,37secs.
Emile Gray, Tadgh Slattery and Sibusiso Mogale also took part in heats on Wednesday morning.
Gray was placed 16th in the women’s S9 400m freestyle, while Slattery was placed ninth in the men’s S6 200m individual medley.
In the same race, Mogale was disqualified for a false start.
Meanwhile, 14-year-old Jessica Long continues to be the star attraction, together with Du Toit, at this year’s championships.
The American, who was adopted from Russia as a 13-month old baby, has won an astonishing eight gold medals. — Sapa