Du Toit, who is from Cape Town and carried the flag for her native South Africa at the opening ceremonies for both the Olympics and Paralympics, will compete in the 100m freestyle event at the Manchester Aquatics Centre on Monday 25 May, following her Paralympic titles in the S9 50m, 100m and 400m freestyle, 100m butterfly and SM9 200m individual medley events and is relishing the challenge ahead: “I will be competing in the 100m freestyle at the BT Paralympic World Cup and my expectations are to go out there and try my best,” said the 25-year-old.

“2009 is the first year of my preparations leading up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and therefore I am taking baby steps. I had taken a two week break after the Paralympics and worked up until the end of December in order for me to travel this year and gain as much international experience as I can, especially in open water swimming.”

Natalie continued, “There will be an open water event at the able-bodied World Championships in July in Rome and furthermore I would like to participate in a couple of open water World Cup events later in the year. The BT Paralympic World Cup is a great stepping stone in the disability international competition calendar and will really help with my preparations.”

The BT Paralympic World Cup is the first major multi-sport elite disability event to be staged since the Beijing Paralympic Games and major international stars and a strong British contingent are expected. The competition will be staged in Manchester from 20-25 May, with over 400 competitors from over 31 countries scheduled to compete.

Athletes will compete in four sports at world class competition venues in Manchester: wheelchair basketball and athletics hosted at the Manchester Regional Arena, swimming at the Manchester Aquatics Centre and track cycling at the Manchester Velodrome.

Tickets for the BT Paralympic World Cup are now on sale and can be purchased via the event website: www.btparalympicworldcup.com or the ParalympicsGB website: www.paralympics.org.uk or by calling 0844 847 1622. Tickets cost £3 per session.

BT is the title sponsor of the Paralympic World Cup; the sponsorship runs up to and includes the 2012 BT Paralympic World Cup.

The official 2009 stakeholders of the BT Paralympic World Cup are the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Manchester City Council and UK Sport.

The BT Paralympic World Cup is sanctioned by the IPC, the UCI and the IWBF. The BBC, the official televised partner to the event, will broadcast live from the Manchester Aquatics Centre on Monday 25 May 2009 on BBC Television.