Double amputee runner Oscar Pistorius of South Africa claimed second place in a 400m race at the Golden League stop in Rome on Friday.
Pistorius, who wants to compete at the Beijing Olympics next year among the able-bodied stars, clocked 46,90 seconds in a B race at the meet, beaten only by Italian race winner Stefano Braciola (46,72).
But the Rome race was only a test for Pistorius, who on Sunday will run in an elite field for the first time in Sheffield, Britain, led by world and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner of the United States.
Pistorius’s personal best is 46,56 seconds, while Wariner’s fastest time is 43,62 seconds.
Pistorius was born without fibulae in both legs, which were amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old. Now 20 years old, he runs on carbon-fibre curved blades and claimed the 200m gold at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens.
Pistorius has run with able-bodied athletes for the past three years and came second at the 2007 national championships. He has sets his sights at the Beijing Games, but it remains unclear whether he will be allowed to run.
The ruling IAAF in March set up a rule banning any runner who appeared to benefit from artificial help. But it then reversed its position three weeks ago and will use the Rome and Sheffield races, among others, as part of research into whether Pistorius gains an advantage from his blades.
”Perhaps certain prosthetics will be allowed and others won’t. We need to establish the facts and we want to do this together. We have nothing against disabled athletes, on the contrary, but we need to be fair,” said IAAF spokesperson Nick Davies in June.
Pistorius insists that the blades give him no advantage, and other athletes seem to support his claim.
”It’s great that he is taking the opportunity to race against us and I really wish him well. I hope it improves his chances of making next year’s Olympic Games,” said Wariner.
Women’s 400m star Sanya Richards said: ”I think it’s ridiculous for us to think they have an advantage. I hope he does well and runs some fast times.” — Sapa-dpa