London, July 5(ANI): Athlete Oscar Pistorius will become first amputee sprinter ever to compete in the Olympics after getting selected for South Africa's individual and relay 400metres at London 2012.
Double amputee Pistorius, known as the 'Blade Runner' due to the prosthetic carbon fibre limbs he uses, thought his chances of appearing individually in the Games had ended when he finished 0.22seconds short of the Olympic 'A' standard in the Africa Championships on Friday.
But the 25-year-old's luck favored him when he was first named in his country's 4x400m team, and was later promoted to the individual race as well
An ecstatic Pistorius received the news when the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee announced the final 13 names in a traveling squad that now numbers 125.
"Today is truly one of the proudest days of my life. To have been selected to represent Team South Africa at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the individual 400m and the 4x400m relay is a real honour and I am so pleased that years of hard work, determination and sacrifice have all come together," The Daily Mirror quoted Pistorius, as saying.
"I have run two Olympic 'A' standard times over the past 12 months and, with the time I ran at the African Championships last week, I know my speed and fitness are constantly improving so that I will peak in time for the Olympics," he added.
Pistorius has already got his name written in the history book after competing at the 2011 World Athletics Championships in Daegu.
He was part of the 4x400m team there, but was left out when they won silver in the final.
Pistorius was banned from competing alongside able-bodied athletes just before the 2008 Olympics but he got the ruling overturned later on. (ANI)