Oscar Pistorius First Amputee to Compete In Track for 2012 Olympics
South African runner Oscar Pistorius will be the first amputee track athlete to compete in the Olympics, representing South Africa in London.
Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius "Blade runner" first competed with able-bodied athletes in 2007. His appearance generated a lot publicity that he had an unfair advantage over able-bodied athletes with "Cheeta Flex-Foot carbon fibre artificial limbs"
Currently, IAAF bans use of "any technical devices that incorporates springs, wheels or any other element that provides a suer with an advantage over another athlete not using such a device," and ruled Pistorius ineligible for competition in January of 2008 - which was later overturned by the Court of Arbitraton for sports.
Pistorius previously did not qualify for the South African Team in 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. In 2011, he qualified for the South African 4 x 400 meters relay with 45.07 in the 2011 World Championships, qualifying him for the 2012 London Olympics. Now he will also run the 400 meters.
The South African Olympic committee announced that they will include Pistorius in the team, making him the first amputee track athlete to compete in the full Olympic Games.
