Blade runner Pistorius to make history after inclusion in South Africa’s Paralympic AND Olympic teams

| July 7, 2012 | 0 Comments

  • Athlete was banned from competing with able-bodied runners before 2008 Olympics – a ruling later changed

By
Daily Mail Reporter


PUBLISHED:

08:54 EST, 4 July 2012

|

UPDATED:

10:14 EST, 4 July 2012

Oscar Pistorius will become the first amputee sprinter to compete in the Olympics after being selected for South Africa.

The double amputee, known as the ‘Blade Runner’ due to the prosthetic carbon fibre limbs he uses, will compete in both 400m and the 4x400m relay.

Pistorius, who will also compete at the Paralympics, was today named in a 13-strong group of athletes by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee that completes their team for London 2012.

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Going for gold: Oscar Pistorius will compete in the men’s 4x400m relay

The 25-year-old was selected alongside Willem de Beer, Ofentse Mogawane and Shaun de Jager for the relay.

Pistorius set the leading time in South
Africa this season when he ran an Olympic-qualifying 45.20 seconds in
the 400m at the March meet in Pretoria, his hometown.

He was unable to reach the mark again
in an international meeting, as stipulated by the national federation’s
qualifying rules.

Needing a time of 45.30secs in the African Championships in Benin on Friday, he managed 45.52s in his second-placed finish.

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Walking tall: ‘Blade Runner’ Pistorius will return to the track for real in London

However, he has done enough to be considered for the individual event.

Tweeting after receiving the news
today, Pistorius said: ‘Today is really one of the happiest days of my
life! Will be in London 2012 for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games!

‘Thank you to everyone that has made
me the athlete I am! God, family and friends, my competitors and
supporters! You have all had a hand!’

South Africa’s Sports Confederation
and Olympic Committee said Pistorius was picked for the London Games
because of his athletic achievements, not because he is the world’s most
famous disabled athlete.

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Ready for action: Pistorius will also compete in the individual event despite falling short of the time

‘As I have said many times before, we
are not taking passengers to London,’ said SASCOC President Gideon Sam.

‘Everyone has met selection criteria and are genuine Olympic Games
material, either now or for 2016. I wish them all the best.’

Pistorius has already made history when competing at the 2011 World Athletics Championships in Daegu.

He was part of the 4x400m team there, but was left out when they won silver in the final.

Pistorius was banned from competing alongside able-bodied athletes just before the 2008 Olympics – a ruling he later had overturned.

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not
debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.



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UNFAIR advantage?? He’s got no legs. How’s that unfair?
“Haters will always hate”: Kat Williams – Poor Little Tink Tink.

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I don’t think there is an unfair advantage at all. The fact that he isn’t beating all the other runners indicates this, otherwise he would win ALL of his races. This man gives people hope and inspiration. He is not a victim of circumstance in a world were far too many people readily blame others for their problems. He is an athlete first and foremost and has a right to compete in the greatest athletic event of them all.

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Anyone that says he has an unfair advantage is an idiot. If you think it’s better and more advantageous to have two legs amputated and have carbon fibre blades instead, go on and voluntarily have it done. Im sure Oscar Pistorius would much rather have his real legs than blades. He is playing the hand he has been dealt, and he is doing a wonderful job of it. Good luck to him. I hope he wins. – Si Up North, Dumfries, Scotland, 05/7/2012 10:20
I don’t think anyone is suggesting that prosthetic legs are better for going around Tesco’s but in a flat out race, having 2 carbon fibre springs for legs could be an advantage. I’m just saying it’s possible and it means it isn’t a level playing field. I respect the guy and think he has bags of courage but is it fair on the other competitors? No, I don’t think so.

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Much as I admire the man isnt this a case of “Cake eat it”.Seems very unfair to me.

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- Liz, Hertfordshire, 4/7/2012 16:38.. Your remarks were absolutely disgusting.. Not all disabled people can lead a full life like some others do. My other half is a double amputee who is unable to wear prosthetics because they cause him to have blood clots in his stumps. He also has several other illnesses one of which is terminal. he would love to be able to lead a full life like he used to i.e. working 2 jobs, walking, cycling, ice skating etc but knows that he will never do these things again and no he doesn’t sit around feeling sorry for himself as he gets on with life as best he can from his wheelchair. If you think it’s so easy you come and live in our house for a couple of weeks and i’ll show you what i as his carer have to live with and no i don’t feel sorry for myself either.. to the man this article is about… you go sir and i hope you do well in what you chose to do.

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Anyone that says he has an unfair advantage is an idiot.
If you think it’s better and more advantageous to have two legs amputated and have carbon fibre blades instead, go on and voluntarily have it done. Im sure Oscar Pistorius would much rather have his real legs than blades. He is playing the hand he has been dealt, and he is doing a wonderful job of it.
Good luck to him. I hope he wins.

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The people who say this makes a mockery of the games are wrong it is already a mockery of the Olympics as there are more pr sports people and more money involved than was ever intended

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what about someone confined to a wheel chair, are they going to let them into olympic bike racing on motorbikes?????????

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Credit to the guy for qualifying but to me it raises the question of how much his “blades” enhance his performance. An example of this is the pole vault where heights achieved stagnated until glass, fibre then carbon fibre, was introduced into the poles. Then heights shot up dramatically. Could these “blades” similarly give him a boost and has research been done into this aspect? Credit to him for being a great athlete but I do understand why other athletes are concerned about the possible enhancement of his performance with these “blades” and the feeling that if he wins his victory could be a tainted one.S

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There was a tv show a while back which focused on the science behind his legs and proved they didn’t give him a physical advantage at all. All the people making nasty comments I doubt have ever done more exercise than running a bath.

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