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LONDON, Sept 1 (Reuters) – South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius
began his London Paralympic campaign in scintillating fashion as
he smashed the 200 metres T44 world record in his heat on
Saturday.
Pistorius ran 21.30, shaving more than half a second off the
previous record set by Brazilian Alan Fonteles Cardoso Oliveira
in an earlier heat.
The 25-year-old, who is dubbed the ‘Blade Runner’, is
defending the 100m, 200m and 400m Olympic titles he won in
Beijing four years ago.
Pistorius, who wears carbon fibre prosthetic blades after
he was born without a fibula in both legs, became the first
double amputee to run in the Olympics, where he made the 400
metres semi-finals.
“I’m so happy to be back here This crowd is as awesome as
they were a couple of weeks ago. I’m happy with the time and
tomorrow is the big race and I am looking forward to that,” he
told Britain’s Channel 4.
“To be out here representing our country in such an amazing
stadium is so amazing.”
Pistorius, who was roared around the Olympic stadium by a
passionate London crowd, is now the hot favourite to clinch 200m
gold in Sunday’s final.
His scorching time has given him confidence that he might be
able to complete the clean sweep as he did in China four years
ago, although he admits the 100m is where he will face his
stiffest test.
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