Swimmer Natalie du Toit has told Eyewitness News she was delighted to have won the Laureus Disabled Sports Person of the Year Award after being nominated for a second time.

The Laureus Awards honour international sports achievers and use sport for social upliftment through their Sport for Good Foundation.

The awards were announced on Wednesday and she was delighted: “For me to be there, the founders were South African, the patron is former president Nelson Mandela, so for that it was great and it was great to be honoured in 2010. It’s the soccer World Cup and to be there representing South Africa when it is such a great year for South Africa.”

Du Toit enjoyed meeting the celebrities and sports stars at the event but Desperate Housewives bad guy Kyle MacLachlan really stood out for her.

“To meet him, very different to the role that he plays on TV, very genuine and it was just amazing to meet such stars.”