South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius said on Wednesday that he does not believe he has a chance of qualifying to run with able-bodied athletes in the 400m at the Beijing Olympics.
”The competitions in which I’m now participating are only good for keeping me fit,” said Pistorius, who is due to take part in an international Paralympic championship in the German capital, Berlin, this weekend.
”Qualifying for Beijing doesn’t seem realistic at the moment, but I’ll try,” added Pistorius, whose best time over 400m is 46,34 seconds while Olympic qualification is set at 45,55.
Pistorius, who had both legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old, last month saw a ban on him competing with able-bodied athletes imposed by the International Association of Athletics Federations overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The 21-year-old last month won a 200m Paralympic meeting in the Dutch city of Emmeloord using his specially adapted carbon-fibre blades in 22,04 seconds.
He had been barred from all competitions involving able-bodied athletes because of claims that the artificial legs he uses give him an unfair advantage. — Sapa-AFP