Pistorius to Compete at Olympics and Paralympics

'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius was officially named to South Africa’s Olympic team on Wednesday (4 July). 04 Jul 2012

Oscar Pistorius tests out the Athletics track at the London 2012 Olympic Stadium.

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"I believe will see some amazing times posted and I am very much looking forward to what will be an incredible Olympics and Paralympics in London."

South African “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius, who has already qualified for four events at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, was also selected to his country’s delegation for the Olympic Games on Wednesday (4 July).

He will compete in both the 400m individual race and the 4x400m relay in the Olympics. Less than a month later in the Paralympics, he will race the 100m, 200m and 400m T43/44 sprints, as well as the 4x100m relay.

It will be the first time an amputee has ever competed on the track at the Olympics.

Pistorius gave a statement to the media on Wednesday that said: "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.

"I have run two Olympic 'A' standard times over the past 12 months and with the time I ran at the African Championships last week I know my speed and fitness are constantly improving so that I will peak in time for the Olympics.

"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 will see some amazing times posted and I am very much looking forward to what will be an incredible Olympics and Paralympics in London."

The 100m T43/44 race, for which the finals occur on 6 September, is one of the most anticipated events of this year’s Paralympic Games. New world-record holder Jonnie Peacock of Great Britain, as well as defending world champion Jerome Singleton of USA, will challenge Pistorius for the title.