South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius, the famed ‘Blade Runner’, has said he has two more races in which to try and register the qualifying time for next month’s World Championships in Daegu, South Sorea.
The 24-year-old runner, who has a best time in the 400m of 45.61sec, intends to run two races in Italy — in Padua on Sunday and in Lignano on July 19, the deadline for qualification — hoping to record the 45.25sec time that he needs to compete in South Korea.
“I was hoping to collect my ticket for Daegu last Friday in Paris,” he told Wednesday’s Gazzetta dello sport. “I will try again on the two occasions that remain open to me. But if it doesn’t happen, it won’t be a big drama. My real objective is to make the Olympic Games.”
Four days back, at the Stade de France, Pistorius was unable to qualify. He came in fifth in 45.84sec, off his personal best of 45.61 set at the South African national trials in March.
Pistorius, who had both lower legs amputated when he was 11 months old, has captured four Paralympic gold medals but since 2008 has been cleared to run in able-bodied races using his artifical legs: springy, lightweight, J-shaped limbs called “Cheetahs”.
{{/usCountry}}Pistorius, who had both lower legs amputated when he was 11 months old, has captured four Paralympic gold medals but since 2008 has been cleared to run in able-bodied races using his artifical legs: springy, lightweight, J-shaped limbs called “Cheetahs”.
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