Wins 100 m freestyle S9 gold at the Athens 2004 Paralympics, reinforcing her dominance in sprint freestyle events.
On 21 September 2004, Natalie du Toit secured another gold medal at the Athens Paralympic Games, winning the 100 m freestyle S9. This event, a benchmark sprint distance in international swimming, showcased her combination of power, technique and race strategy over two lengths of the pool.
According to Britannica and government accounts, the 100 m freestyle victory formed part of a dominant Athens program in which she claimed five golds and one silver. The medal further cemented her reputation as the leading S9 freestyler of her era, capable of excelling from 50 m sprints through to 400 m events.
The win contributed to a broader reappraisal of Paralympic performance standards, with du Toit’s times drawing comparisons to able‑bodied benchmarks and highlighting narrowing gaps in elite performance. For young swimmers with disabilities, her 100 m freestyle gold offered a tangible example of how dedication and systematic training could translate into multiple titles across a single Games.