Athletics: ‘Blade Runner’ beats a horse

Oscar "Blade Runner" Pistorius beat Arab horse Maserati over 200 metres in the ‘run like the wind’ race in Doha.

DOHA: South African Oscar Pistorius, who became the first disabled runner to compete in the Olympics when he ran in the 400 metres, beat Arab horse Maserati in the ‘run like the wind’ race in Doha.

The 26-year-old Pistorius, known as the Blade Runner because of the carbon fibre blades he runs on after having his legs amputated below the knee before he was aged one because of a congenital condition, beat the horse over 200 metres.

Pistorius took up the challenge in a bid to promote disabled sportspeople and fight discrimination against disabled people in the region. “It wasn’t about who won tonight,” said Pistorius. “It was about showing people that those with disabilities are capable of doing great things. It was a lot of fun. Hopefully this will do a lot to change perceptions of disabled people in the region.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th, 2012.