Double amputee to race in London

JOHANNESBURG: Oscar Pistorius will become the first double amputee to compete at the Olympics after being included in the South African 4x400-metre relay team for the Olympics. The 25-year-old’s selection comes five days after conceding in a battle to run in the 400m at the Games as he finished just outside the qualifying mark when coming second at the African championships in Benin. But his sadness turned to joy as South Africa finalised the squad for London by choosing a relay team including Pistorius, Willem de Beer, Ofentse Mogawane and Shaun de Jager. “Today is really one of the happiest days of my life,” said Pistorius. “I will be in London for both the Olympic and the Paralympic Games.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2012.