The "Blade Runner" will finally get a chance to show if he can compete among elite, international competition. South African runner Oscar Pistorius, who competes using prosthetic legs because of a double amputation, has qualified to compete at the upcoming track and field world championships.
In 2008, Pistorius was banned from competing at international events because the carbon fiber prosthetics he uses were seen as giving him an unfair advantage. The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the ban, saying that there was no evidence that Pistorius had an advantage. However, he failed to qualify for the Olympics.
But in the last qualifying meet for the track world championships, Pistorius ran a 45.07s 400m, well under the needed qualifying time of 45.25s. He will represent South Africa in both the 400m and the 4x400 relay.
He's hoping for a consistent performance:
"If I manage to make it through the heats, I would be thrilled," he added. "A good performance for me would be to be consistent through the heats. If I ran anywhere close to my PB (personal best), I would be delighted."
With less than a year to go until the London Olympics, Pistorius will have a chance to show if he can compete with the world's best. How he fares at the world in South Korea at the end of the month will give a glimpse into his Olympic future.
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