Oscar: Nice to be out on track
2007-07-14 08:23
Rome - Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius warmed up for a world-class, able-bodied race this weekend by finishing second in a 400-metre B sprint at the Golden Gala on Friday.
Pistorius, a double-amputee who races on carbon fiber blades attached below his knees, charged from behind in the final straight to time 46.90 seconds against local 400 runners, well off his personal best of 46.56.
"I am not very happy about my time, but it's still nice to be out on the track," Pistorius said. "These past three weeks have been very tiring so I guess my time was to be expected."
Pistorius has been under an intense media spotlight since he was given permission to race in top able-bodied races by the International Association of Athletics Federations last month. He has competed in able-bodied races in South Africa for the last three years.
On Sunday, the 20-year-old will run the top-tier 400 at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Sheffield, England in a field that includes Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner.
There are three more Golden League meets in September in Zurich, Switzerland; Brussels, Belgium; and Berlin.
- AP