Cancer Patient to Gold

From chemo patient to Olympics champ

Maarten van der Weijden, who was given only a slim chance of survival after being diagnosed with leukaemia, won the gold in the men's 10km open water marathon.

The Dutch swimmer discovered he had leukaemia in 2001 but pulled through after a stem cell transplant and chemotherapy and returned to the water two years later.

Feat of Du Toit

The Feat of Amputee Du Toit

South Africa's physically challenged Swimmer Natalie du Toit, may not have finished in the top three in open water swim at the Beijing Olympic Games, but the mere fact that she participated was more than worth a medal.

Du Toit, who lost her lower leg in a scooter accident eight years ago, never let go of her dream to participate in the Olympic Games. She finished 16th out of 25 participants-- completing the distance in two hours, 49.9 seconds.

That was just one minute and 22 seconds behind the winner, Larisa Ilchenko of Russia, who won in one hour, 59 minutes and 27.7 seconds.

Salute to Ms. Du Toit..