Chad Ho, Natalie Du Toit Triumphant in 5K at South African Open Water Championships

ELGIN, South Africa, February 3. THE South African duo of Chad Ho and Natalie Du Toit claimed the 5K national titles at the South African Open Water Championships held on the second day of swimming in Elgin.

Ho clocked a winning effort of 1:00:36.18 among the men, while James Faure (1:00.43.26) and Charlton Lawson (1:00:51.75) completed the top three in the event.

Du Toit, on the other hand, won the women's race in 1:03:43.08, while Louise Smyth finished second in 1:05:10.05 and Yolandi van den Merwe took third in 1:05:13.31.

Du Toit is a remarkable story as she is one of the top Paralympians in the world. A former 1998 Commonwealth Games swimmer as a young teen, Du Toit had her left leg amputated at the knee in 2001 after a car accident. After rehab, she has bounced back with the intent to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Event 9 Men 14 & Over 5k Open Water
Name Age Team Finals Time
1 Ho, Chad 17 KLOO-KZ 1:00:36.18
2 Faure, James 19 WPA-WP 1:00:43.26
3 Lawson, Charlton 23 SGUL-KZ 1:00:51.75
4 Forrest, Jamie Grant 20 GBR-ZZ 1:00:55.27
5 Railoun, Abdul-Malick 15 WPA-WP 1:01:00.56
6 de Swardt, Mark 18 WSTV-KZ 1:01:01.34
7 Marais, Danie 15 WPA-WP 1:02:00.18
8 Muller, Faffa 19 WPA-WP 1:04:05.17
9 de Bruin, Hendri 21 Otters-NW 1:06:41.20
10 Marais, Michael 15 Aquabear-EP 1:07:04.90
11 Nel, Melvin 15 BLAC-ES 1:07:11.82
12 Beswick, Christopher 16 Aquabear-EP 1:07:21.09
13 Davies, Scott 16 CGA-CG 1:07:30.31
14 Stevenson, Brent 16 CGA-CG 1:09:58.44
15 Dillon, Bryan 34 CGA-CG 1:13:53.65

Event 10 Women 14 & Over 5k Open Water
Name Age Team Finals Time
1 Du Toit, Natalie 24 WPA-WP 1:03:43.08
2 Smyth, Louise 17 Seals-FS 1:05:10.05
3 VD Merwe, Yolandi 17 WPA-WP 1:05:13.31
4 Dryding, Dominique 15 WPA-WP 1:05:21.65
5 Mower, Kirsten 17 PISC-KZ 1:05:24.49
6 Franklin, Sharne 17 Seals-FS 1:05:46.71
7 Roux, Jessica 15 SCAT-EP 1:08:17.13
8 Edwards, Caroline 15 Otters-NW 1:11:06.90
9 White, Jenny 15 Tuks-NT 1:11:24.16
10 Bakhuis, Stephanie 16 Aquabear-EP 1:11:47.85
11 VD Merwe, Deidre 16 CGA-CG 1:13:22.17
12 van Staden, Dalene 15 Waves-MP 1:14:41.17
13 Newman, Rebecca 15 Pea-EP 1:21:03.16
— Welgemoed, Charlene 26 CGA-CG DNF

Chad Ho at the 2008 South African Open Water Championships

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