Amputee Du Toit qualifies for Beijing

South African amputee Natalie Du Toit qualified for the Beijing Olympics after she finished fourth in the 10km race in the Open Water World Championships in Seville.

The 24-year-old, who lost her left leg when she was hit by a car while riding her scooter in 2001, clocked a time of two hours two minutes 7.8 seconds, just 5.1 seconds behind winner Larisa Ilchenko of Russia.

The 10km open water race is making its debut as an Olympic event in Beijing. Du Toit almost qualified for the Sydney Olympics in three events at the age of 16 but she suffered the accident a year later.

She became the first amputee to race in the finals of a major able-bodied swimming competition when she made the final of the 800m free at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. She missed out on qualification for the 2004 Olympics, but did compete in the Paralympics the same year where she won five gold medals and a silver.

Dyatchin takes gold

Russia's Vladimir Dyatchin edged out Britain's David Davies by 0.3s to take gold in the men's 10k yesterday.

There was disappointment for Australian 1,500m free record holder Grant Hackett who was disqualified and will miss out on the event in Beijing.