Australian rugby sevens star and Olympian Dominique du Toit has shared joyous personal news, announcing that she is expecting her first child with her fiancé, Bart.
A Ski Resort Revelation
The 28-year-old athlete revealed her pregnancy to the world on Monday via a heartfelt social media post. The announcement featured a gallery of intimate photographs capturing the couple's happiness.
One poignant image showed the soon-to-be parents sharing a tender embrace at the picturesque Whistler Mountain ski resort in Canada. In the photo, Du Toit proudly displayed her ultrasound scan to the camera.
Another snapshot captured a moment of quiet reverence, with both their hands carefully clasping the precious ultrasound image. The photo also offered a clear view of Du Toit's sparkling diamond engagement ring.
"We Can’t Wait for June 2026"
Accompanying the images, the elite sportswoman penned an emotional caption reflecting on her good fortune. "Every year I think life can't get any better than it already is and every year it does," she wrote. She concluded the message with the excited declaration: "We can’t wait for June 2026."
The news was swiftly celebrated by friends and fellow athletes from the world of sport. Congratulatory messages flooded the comments section.
Fellow Australian Olympian swimmer Shayna Jack gushed "Congratulations," while New Zealand rugby sevens player Michaela Brake simply added, "Love this."
A Stellar Sporting Career
Dominique du Toit is one of Australia's most accomplished Rugby League and sevens stars. Her impressive career highlights include:
- Winning a silver medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
- Securing a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
- Being selected for the Australian Women's rugby sevens squad for three consecutive Olympic Games: Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024.
A Family's Personal Challenges
The happy pregnancy news comes just months after Du Toit and her mother, Christy, made a public and heartfelt plea for help regarding her grandmother's care.
In a moving interview with Channel 9's A Current Affair in June, the family revealed that Du Toit's grandmother, Dawn, has been diagnosed with dementia and now requires full-time professional care.
Dawn, who was born in Zimbabwe, followed her family to Australia 13 years ago on a sponsored aged parent visa after her husband passed away.
"Granny's dementia has deteriorated a fair bit," Du Toit explained during the emotional segment. "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'."
Du Toit expressed deep gratitude for the opportunities Australia has given her, while also voicing her hope that her grandmother could receive the support she needs in her adopted country.
The dual announcement of a new life entering the family and the ongoing care challenges for an elder member paints a poignant picture of the family's journey, balancing immense joy with real-world concerns.
