Natalie, the swimmer [?] lost a leg
Natalie du Toit, the South African swimmer, was [?] seventeen when she lost her leg in a road accident. She was going to a training session [?] the swimming pool [?] her motorbike when a car hit her. Her leg [?] to be amputated at the knee. At the time she was one of South Africa’s [?] promising young swimmers. Everybody thought that she [?] never be able to swim competitively again.
But Natalie was determined to carry on. She went [?] into the pool only three months after the accident. And just one year later, at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, she swam 800 metres in 9 minutes 11.38 seconds and qualified for the final – but not for disabled swimmers, for able-bodied ones! [?] she didn’t win a medal, she still made history.
‘I remember how thrilled I was the first time that I swam after recovering [?] the operation - it felt like my leg was there. It still does’, says Natalie. ‘The water is the gift that gives me back my leg. I’m still the same person I was [?] the accident. I believe [?] happens in life for a reason. You can’t go back and change anything. Swimming was my life and still is. My dream is to swim faster [?] I did before the accident.’

Bethany, the surfer [?] lost an arm
Bethany Hamilton was the best girl surfer of her age when she lost an arm in a shark attack. She was [?] thirteen years old and was surfing in Hawaii [?] a tiger shark attacked [?] and tore off her left arm. It happened so fast she didn’t even scream.
But Bethany was determined [?] get back on a surf board as soon as possible. As soon as she left hospital she began practising her surfing exercises [?] the beach. Everyone was [?] to see her surfing so soon [?] her accident. Incredibly, she finished 5th at the National Surfing Championships.
‘The first time I went back into the sea I was so happy I cried,’ she said. ‘It was easier than I thought. But obviously it’s much more difficult than with [?] arms, and I have to accept I’ll probably never be world champion, which [?] be my dream.’
Since then Bethany has signed a contract with Rip Curl, and has written a book about her experiences [?] has been made into a film. ‘I always dream [?] the sea,’ she says. ‘When you surf a wave, it’s like walking [?] water, and when you’re in the air, it’s like flying’.