Oscar shines in Rome
2007-07-13 21:04
Rome - South Africa's amputee athlete, Oscar Pistorius, has finished second in the 400m 'B' race at the Rome Golden League meeting.
He is continuing his bid to compete with able-bodied athletes at next month's world athletics championships in Osaka.
The 21-year-old from Pretoria, who clocked 46.90s, had both legs amputated below the knee when less than a year old because of a congenital condition.
A former rugby and water-polo player, Pistorius uses high-tech, J-shaped carbon-fibre blades which are fixed to his legs just under the knees.
To qualify for the South African team for the worlds in Japan from August 25 to September 2, Pistorius has to time 45.95sec in the 400m.
He will try to clinch the qualifying time again at Sheffield in England on Sunday.
In 2005, Pistorius was sixth in the 400m at the South African championships and he is set on becoming the first amputee runner to compete in the Olympics next year in China possibly in his country's relay team.
However, the IAAF could stand in his way.
They have already ruled that the special blades are an unfair advantage but are willing to see how he fares in these events.
- SAPA