South African amputee Oscar Pistorius to compete London 2012 Olympics
Last week l watched in awe when Oscar Pistorius a 25-year-old runner from South Africa made the cut to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics, and his inclusion will be a momentous one.Roll on 2012 Summer Olympics which commence on Friday, July 27 in London,England
Pistorius is a double-amputee who lost both of his legs before he turned one (he was born without a fibula in both of his legs), will be the first Paralympian to compete in an able-bodied track event.
Pistorius, who set his sight on the Olympics after competing and winning in the Paralympics, said in a statement on his website this week, “Today is truly one of the proudest days of my life. To have been selected to represent Team South Africa at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the individual 400m and the 4x400m relay is a real honour and I am so pleased that years of hard work, determination and sacrifice have all come together.”
The athlete, who has specially-made prosthetic limbs, continued, “I have a phenomenal team behind me who have helped get me here and I, along with them, will now put everything we can into the final few weeks of preparations before the Olympic Games where I am aiming to race well, work well through the rounds, post good times and maybe even a personal best time on the biggest stage of them all. I am also hugely excited to then be competing to defend my three Paralympic titles at the Paralympic Games. I believe [we] will see some amazing times posted and I am very much looking forward to what will be an incredible Olympics and Paralympics in London.”
No matter how Pistorius fares at the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, there’s no question that he will have the support of not only his team, but the entire world. That, in itself, is a thing of beauty.
Above: Video of South African Oscar Pistorius, a double-amputee, competing in a preliminary heat in the 400 meters at the 2011 IAFF World Championships in South Korea)
loading...
loading...
l can see why he would break every record in the special olympics becoz he is a running machine,almost bionic
loading...
loading...
A man of great courage, determination and skill. But it brings mechanics into play that should not be involved
loading...
loading...
What if he were a swimmer…would he be allowed to use prosthetic feet in the shape of flippers?So controversial
loading...
loading...
He’s gonna kick butt with those springy legs.
loading...
loading...
lets go Africa!!
loading...
loading...
if he can be in the Olympics, why can’t a non-disabled runner be in the para-lympics?
loading...
loading...
This is so inspiring
loading...
loading...