'New legs' for amazing Oscar
2005-02-17 21:36
Bloemfontein - South Africa's sensational Paralympic 200m champion and world-record holder, Oscar Pistorius, who is in action at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Friday, leaves for the United States on March 19 to fetch "new legs".
Pistorius was born with a deformity and both legs were amputated below the knee.
He competed against able-bodied men at an athletics meeting in Potchefstroom recently and improved his record to 21.83.
He also set a new world record of 47.43 in his category over 400m last year. The old record stood at 50s.
Pistorius has set a time of 11.16 over the 100m.
His father, Henke, told Volksblad that a day before his son leaves for the US, he will take part in Pretoria, but this time over 400m.
His best time over this distance (47.43) places him 5th on the 2004 junior rankings, only 1.02s slower than the former top hurdles athlete LJ van Zyl of Bloemfontein.
Pistorius is going to the US to fetch two extra pairs of legs especially designed for taking part in the 100m and the 400m.
His father says he believes the new "legs", which will cost about R210 000, will help his son to improve his times.