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"Fastest Man on No Legs": Double Amputee Eyes Olympic Gold

by jordan | April 24, 2007 at 11:18 pm | 247 views | add comment

The twist here is that Oscar Pistorius is seeking a berth in the Beijing Summer Games in 2008, and not its cousin, the Paralympics.

He faces obstacles beyond the physical though, as Olympic officials disagree over the "advantage" Pistorius' artificial limbs provide.

Three years ago Oscar Pistorius had never stepped onto a track, let alone run a race.

Today he is an athletics sensation - holder of world records in the 100m, 200m and 400m events.

His coach, Ampie Louw, says Oscar is "a natural champion - born that way".

The 20-year-old South African is one of a handful of runners around the globe who could make the Olympic qualifying time. He is less than a second away.

But Oscar's Olympic bid is like no other - he is a double amputee.

At birth he was missing bones below the knee.

After his legs were removed, at the age of one, he learnt to walk on prosthetics, and he believes this pushed him to excel.

He has done everything from quad biking to water skiing. He took up athletics as rehabilitation for a rugby injury.

On the track, they call him "blade runner" - thanks to his carbon fibre prosthetics, custom-made in Iceland.