Wins the EAD 100 m freestyle gold at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games in an integrated disability event.
On 15 March 2006, at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Natalie du Toit won gold in the EAD 100 m freestyle event, part of the Games’ fully integrated Elite Athletes with a Disability program. The race brought together swimmers from different disability classes under a points system, making victory especially challenging.
According to competition summaries, this was one of two EAD gold medals she secured in Melbourne. Her win in the 100 m event demonstrated that her dominance in para‑swimming extended beyond classification‑specific races to mixed‑category formats where performances were normalized across classes.
The event highlighted the Commonwealth Games’ evolving approach to inclusion, with EAD events scheduled in the main program and medals counted collectively. Du Toit’s success in this structure reinforced her reputation as a pioneer of integrated competition and showcased how elite para‑athletes could thrive in innovative formats designed to promote fairness and visibility.