Australian rugby sevens Olympian Dominique du Toit has shared a double dose of personal news, announcing she is expecting her first child while continuing to advocate for her grandmother who requires full-time dementia care.
A Joyful Announcement from Whistler
The 28-year-old athlete, a celebrated figure in Australian Rugby League, revealed her pregnancy to fans on social media this Monday. She posted a gallery of intimate photos to share the exciting development with her followers.
One tender image captured the soon-to-be parents, Dom and her fiancé Bart, embracing at the picturesque Whistler Mountain ski resort in Canada. In the photo, Dom proudly displayed her ultrasound scan to the camera.
Another poignant picture showed the couple's hands carefully clasping the precious ultrasound image, with Dom's sparkling diamond engagement ring prominently on show. The baby is due in June 2026.
"Every year I think life can't get any better than it already is and every year it does," the star athlete wrote in the caption for her social media carousel. "We can’t wait for June 2026."
Support from the Sporting Community
The heartwarming news prompted an outpouring of congratulations from Dom's network of celebrity and sporting friends. Fellow Australian Olympian Shayna Jack gushed "Congratulations," while New Zealand rugby sevens player Michaela Brake chimed in with "Love this."
Dom du Toit is one of Australia's most decorated rugby talents. Her impressive career includes winning silver and gold medals at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games. She has also been a stalwart of the Women's 7s squad, representing Australia at three Olympic Games: 2016 in Rio, the 2020 Tokyo Games, and the recent 2024 Paris Olympics.
A Heartbreaking Family Plea
Beyond the joy of her pregnancy announcement, Dom and her family are navigating a challenging personal situation. In June of this year, Dom and her mother Christy made an emotional public plea to the Australian government for assistance.
The appeal concerns the care of Dom's grandmother, Dawn, who has been diagnosed with dementia. The family revealed the difficult circumstances during an interview with Channel 9's A Current Affair.
Du Toit, who was born in Zimbabwe and emigrated to Australia with her family at age four, explained that her grandmother followed them to Australia 13 years ago on a sponsored aged parent visa after the death of her husband.
"Granny's dementia has deteriorated a fair bit," Dom stated in the interview. She detailed a tragic sequence of events that led to the current crisis: "She ended up in hospital after having a fall, breaking her hip and both elbows. [She was] in hospital for quite a few months. That was when they were like: 'She can't stay at home she needs professional full-time care'."
Despite the hardship, Dom expressed profound gratitude for the opportunities Australia has provided her, while voicing a hope that the same support could be extended to her grandmother in her time of need.
The dual announcement from the Olympian paints a picture of a life in transition, marked by both immense personal joy and significant familial responsibility, highlighting the complex realities faced by many modern families.
