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'Blade Runner' realises a dream
A dream came true for double-amputee Oscar Pistorius Monday when he was named in the South African team for the world championships this month.
A dream came true for double-amputee Oscar Pistorius Monday when he was named in the South African team for the world championships this month. The Cas selected for the 400 metres and is part of the 4x400 metres relay squad for the biennial competition to be staged between August 27 and September 4 in South Korean city Daegu.
Controversial women's world 800m champion Caster Semenya was another inclusion in a squad of 21 men and five women
"I have dreamt for such a long time of competing in a major championship and this is a very proud moment in my life. It is an honour to be representing my country at such a prestigious event," Pistorius said. "I hope to do my best at the competition for South Africa. I am training hard for the event and I am looking foward to the championships immensely.
"The IAAF is a world-class governing body for our sport and I am grateful to have the chance to run in their events. It will be a great day for me when I set out on the track in Daegu and hope to do my country proud."
Cleared three years ago to run against able-bodied athletes, 24-year-old Pistorius acknowledged that he faced an immense challenge at the championships.
Pistorius, a four-time Paralympic gold medalist, clocked a personal best 45.07 seconds in Italian town Lignano last month to secure his place at the global athletics showpiece.
Called the 'Blade Runner' and the 'Fastest man with no legs', Pistorius had both legs amputated below the knee for medical reasons when he was 11 months old. It did not stop him competing in rugby union, tennis, water polo and wrestling at school and the 1.86-metre athlete was eligible for the Beijing Olympics but failed to qualify.
