VIDEO: Nedbank championships begin with a bang
SANDTON - One of South Africa's most talented paralympians, Natalie du Toit motivated her fellow athletes at the launch the Nedbank National Championships for the physically disabled.
The champioships provide disabled athletes a platform to showcase their sporting talents. Du Toit, a paralympic swimmer spoke about her tough journey as a disabled sports star, highlighting it as a challenge to fulfil her dreams.
“When I lost my leg through an accident, it was no longer about being put in a box, but rather about achieving my dreams,” she said.
She added that competing with other disabled athletes opened her mind considerably, and allowed her to separate her disability from her dreams and to encourage others to do the same.
Watch Natalie du Toit talk about her journey as a paralympian swimmer at the launch of the Nedbank National Championships for the physically disabled:
Isaac Shadung, president of the South African Sports Association for Physically Disabled thanked Nedbank for their long-standing involvement in the competition.
“I must commend Nedbank for taking us on board and I am looking forward to seeing new talent unearthed during the championships,” he said.
He added that discovering new talent was important, especially in rural areas, and said disabled athletes must grab opportunities such as this one and get more involved in sport.
Tobie Badenhorst, sponsorship portfolio manager at the bank said they had been sponsoring the championships for 24 years and it was a unique opportunity for future stars to be identified and groomed for events such as the paralympics.
“It’s important for Nedbank to give back to the communities in which we operate, and we do that by focusing on those who are disabled, helping them to achieve their potential,” he said.
Share your thoughts on this story in the comments below.
