LONDON: The 14th Paralympic Games will see the participation of some of the world’s paralympic stars in their quest of greater achievement.
Among them is Natalie Du Toit of South Africa, who won five gold medals at the 13th Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.
The 28-year-old swimmer, who had announced her intention to retire last Monday, aims to retire on a high in the sport she has dominated for more than a decade. She will be competing in seven events at this year’s Paralympics.
Another top South African athlete at this year’s Games is Oscar Pistorius. He will defend his T44 100m, 200m and 400m titles won in Beijing.
However, the 25-year-old will face a tough challenge from the current world champion, Jerome Singleton of the United States and Great Britain’s Jonnie Peacock.
Meanwhile, Netherlands’ Esther Vergeer could well be regarded as the most dominant women’s wheelchair tennis player of all time.
Since she first represented her country at the Paralympics, Vergeer had won five gold and a silver medal.
She has been world number one for over 10 years, longer than any other tennis player in history.
The home crowd will be banking on their top equine athlete Lee Pearson to deliver the gold medal.
Pearson had won three gold medals each at the last three Paralympic Games he participated. At his first Games in Sydney, Australia in 2000, Pearson was propelled into the public spotlight when he won gold in the Mixed, Mixed Freestyle and Mixed Team events.
Astride his horse Blue Circle Boy, Pearson was again dominant at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 in the same events contested.
An inspirational rider, Pearson also won the 2003 British National Championships, in which he competed against non-disabled riders. — Bernama