Athletics
Oscar dumped for relay final
2011-09-02 06:58
Daegu - Double amputee runner Oscar Pistorius said on Friday he was not selected for the 4x400 metres final at the world championships.
Pistorius, 24, was part of the South African team which ran a national record 2 minutes 59.21 seconds in the heats on Thursday, but then tweeted that he will not be in the final set for later Friday.
"Haven't been included in the final for the SA Mens 4x400m. Pretty gutted," he said. "That's me for the World Champs! Gods blessed me! Semifinals in the 400m and a national record in the 4x400m semi! Thank u all!"
Known as Blade Runner for his carbon-fibre prosthetic lower legs, Pistorius was originally barred from competing in able-bodied events in 2007 by the ruling body IAAF, which said his blades gave him an unfair advantage.
But that ruling was nullified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport the next year and Pistorius finally qualified for the Daegu championships after missing the qualifying criteria for the 2008 Olympics and 2009 worlds.
Pistorius qualified for the 400m semi-finals and then also ran in the relay, where he ran the first leg, which is run fully within the lanes, so as not to endanger other athletes as ordered by the IAAF.
Pistorius was over the moon after the record and had clearly hoped for a place in the team in the finals as well, but the South African team boasts several runners who can run at least as fast as Pistorius. It was not known immediately who would take his place.
However, Pistorius will be on the podium if South Africa finish in the top three, as runners from heats are included in the medal awards.