NATALIE Du Toit's appearance at the Visa Paralympic World Cup in Manchester next week will be a lot warmer and less hazardous than a recent charity swim in South Africa.

Du Toit is one of the World Cup's leading lights and has become a popular visitor to the city since the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

She will be competing in three events at the Aquatics Centre and is expected to take three gold medals.

But Du Toit's career as a sprinter is coming to a close as she looks towards next year's Olympic - rather than Paralympic - Games in Beijing.

Indeed, she could compete in China next year against Stockport-based Cassie Patten, who claimed silver at the World Championship earlier this year.

"I've not done a lot of sprinting recently," she said from her Cape Town home.

"I've been concentrating on the longer distance events so I'm not quite sure what to expect in Manchester.

"Beijing is definitely a target for me, both in the 800 metres freestyle and the open water events." As a result, Du Toit has just finished a 7,000-metre charity race from Robben Island - the island prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated - to Blouberg.

"The temperature of the water was just 13 degrees," she said. "But it's all in a good cause. All the competitors pay 550 Rand - about £40 - which goes to a charity for children with cerebral palsy."

Du Toit almost qualified for the 2000 Sydney Olympics as a 16-year-old. A year later, she lost her left leg after being knocked off a motor bike on the way to school. Du Toit never contemplated giving up. And in Manchester five years ago, she became the first multi-disability swimmer to compete in an able-bodied final.

Her compatriot, Oscar Pistorious, is another top South African heading for the North West next week.

Like Du Toit, he is determined to compete against able-bodied athletes.

His knee-length carbon fibre blades, which propel him at great speeds over 100, 200 and 400 metres, have fallen foul of the sport's world governing body, the IAAF.

A ruling on whether he will be allowed to take part in China is due in August.

THE Visa Paralympic World Cup will take place in Manchester from May 7-13.

A total of 340 athletes from 47 countries will compete in four sports: athletics, track cycling, swimming and wheelchair basketball.

The event is hosted by the British Paralympic Association and supported by Visa, UK Sport, Manchester City Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

Tickets are available at www.visaparalympicworld cup.com or by phone on 0870 165 2005.

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