Johannesburg — CAPE Town amputee Natalie du Toit's inspirational deeds in the world of sport and public service were honoured in Beijing yesterday when she became the female recipient of the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award.

The award is made to one male and one female Paralympian "who not only achieve sporting excellence, but also exceptionally inspire and excite the world".

The winners of the prizes will each receive a medal made out of 75g of pure gold at the closing ceremony in Beijing today.

Speaking against the background of a raucous party that was in full swing at the home of the South African ambassador in Beijing, Du Toit was her usual modest self last night: "Let me get outside so that I can hear myself think. It's getting pretty rowdy in there," she said.

Du Toit then insisted: "I don't see myself as anyone special. I'm just one member of a team and all the people here have made sacrifices to get here.

"I don't think this award sets me apart in any way. I suppose I would see it as the recognition of a lot of sacrifice, and all the time I have spent in pursuing my dreams," she said.

"All three of the concepts embodied in the award are very important to me. Yes, the medals are important, as is the competing. But they are not the be-all and end-all of the matter. Providing inspiration to others to pursue their dreams is a very important part of it.

"If I were to use this award as a platform to send out a message, it would be the same one I usually talk about -- you can realise your dreams if you want them badly enough and work hard at them.

"This is something I believe very strongly and a theme I constantly talk about in my motivational speaking sessions at home .

"These achievements are special to me but they should serve as an inspiration to others to achieve the same things.

"When you come down to it, it's all about having the dream."

The Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award is named after South Korean Whang Youn Dai, who was stricken with polio at the age of three. She devoted her life to the development of Paralympic sport around the world.

At the 1988 Paralympic Summer Games in Seoul, the International Paralympic Committee recognised her life-long contribution to the Paralympic movement and thus established the award. Since then, this award has been presented at every Paralympic Games.

"I met her this morning," said Du Toit. "She is about 60 years old now and she doesn't speak English that well. She was using an interpreter.

"But she is a very sweet and kindly person.

"She said she wanted this award to be an inspiration to what she called 'the simple people'. That was how she put it during her interviews."

The male recipient was Panamanian swimmer Saeed Gomez.

The Beijing Games have been a momentous roller coaster for Du Toit. After her ground-breaking participation in the able-bodied Olympics -- in the 10km open-water marathon swim -- she stayed behind when the team returned to SA, and joined up with her Paralympic team-mates to win five gold medals in the swimming pool.

But for an administrative oversight by officials at home in SA before the Games, she could have won six.

Last night her voice was breaking with the strain of it all. Asked if she was getting a cold, she said: "No, I suppose it is just because I am tired. It has been a pretty hectic six or seven weeks. But I would like to thank everyone at home for all the support."