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Pistorius to run at Olympics

Cape Town - Double amputee Oscar Pistorius will make his Olympic debut in August after he was added to South Africa's final team for the London Games on Wednesday.

GALLERY: London 2012 Olympic countdown


Pistorius, who failed narrowly in his attempt to qualify in the individual 400m sprint, was included in the 125-member SA team as part of the 4x400m relay squad.

"Today is really one of the happiest days of my life," Pistorius posted on Twitter.

"Will be in London for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games!"

An additional 13 names were added to the provisional 112-member SA team announced by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) in the first week of June.

Sascoc believed the Olympic governing body had chosen the strongest possible team to compete in the English capital, after setting strict criteria for selection following the poor showing at the 2008 Beijing Games.

"As I have said many times before, we are not taking passengers to London," Sascoc president Gideon Sam said in a statement.

"Everyone has met selection criteria and are genuine Olympic Games material, either now or for 2016. I wish them all the best."

Willem de Beer, Ofentse Mogawane and Shaun de Jager were included in the 4x400m relay team, joining 400m hurdles specialist LJ van Zyl, who had already been selected.

South Africa's only medallist in Beijing, long jumper Khotso Mokoena, was also added to the team after reaching the qualifying standard twice in his discipline.

Rising stars Anaso Jobodwana (200m), Andre Olivier (800m), Lehann Fourie (110m hurdles) and Willem Coertzen (decathlon), who was a surprise omission from the provisional team, round out the country's track and field representatives at the Games.

Open water swimmers Troyden Prinsloo and Jessica Roux, who were the first South Africans to finish at a qualifying event in Portugal last month, were added to the swimming team, along with Darren Murray (200m backstroke) and Trudi Maree (50m freestyle) who will turn out in the pool.

"Finally, we have a complete squad," Sam said.

"It's taken four long years of work but now we can concentrate on doing our best at the Games.

"The preparation has been done and now it's up to our athletes to take over in London and show us what they're made of."

Additional athletes to Team South Africa for the 2012 Olympics:

Aquatics
Darren Murray, Trudi Maree, Troyden Prinsloo, Jessica Roux

Athletics
Willem Coertzen, Willem de Beer, Shaun de Jager, Lehann Fourie, Anaso Jobodwana, Ofentse Mogawane, Khotso Mokoena, Andre Olivier, Oscar Pistorius

South Africa's final 125-member Olympic team, named on Wednesday, for the London Games starting on July 27.

Aquatics:
Swimming: Men: Jean Basson, Charl Crous, Herman Heerden, Chad le Clos, Gideon Louw, Graham Moore, Sebastien Rousseau, Riaan Schoeman, Roland Schoeman, Leith Shankland, Darian Townsend, Cameron van der Burgh, Darren Murray, Trudi Maree

Women: Kathryn Meaklim, Karin Prinsloo, Wendy Trott, Suzaan van Biljon

Open water: Troyden Prinsloo, Jess Roux

Archery:
Karen Hultzer

Athletics:
Marathon men: Lusapho April, Stephen Mokoka, Coolboy Ngamole

Marathon women: Rene Kalmer, Tanith Maxwell, Irvette van Blerk

Track and field: Men: Anaso Jobodwana, Andre Olivier, Lehann Fourie, Cornel Fredericks, LJ van Zyl, Oscar Pistorius, Ofentse Mogawane, Willem de Beer, Shaun de Jager, Khotso Mokoena, Willem Coertzen

Women: Caster Semenya, Sunette Viljoen

50km race walk: Marc Mundell

Badminton:
Michelle Claire Edwards, Dorian Lance James, Annari Viljoen, Willem Viljoen

Boxing:
Siphiwe Lusizi (69kg), Ayabonga Sonjica (56kg)

Canoeing:
Bridgitte Hartley (K1 500m women), Tiffany Kruger (K1 200m women)

Cycling:

Road: Darryl Impey, Robyn Lee de Groot, Ashleigh Moolman, Joanna van der Winkel

Mountain bike: Phillip Buys, Candice Neethling, Burry Stander

BMX: Sifiso Nhlapo

Track: Bernard Esterhuizen

Equestrian:
Paul Hart (Eventing)

Soccer:
Women: Roxanne Barker, Zamandosi Cele, Amanda Dlamini, Judith Hlumbane, Refiloe Jane, Kylie-Ann Louw, Noko Matlou, Andisiwe Mgcoyi, Philadelphia Mndaweni, Portia Modise, Sanah Mollo, Robyn Moodaly, Marry Ntsweng, Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Amanda Sister, Leandra Smeda, Janine van Wyk, Nothando Vilakazi

Hockey:
Men: Andrew Cronje, Timothy Drummond, Ian Haley, Rhett Halkett, Marvin Harper, Julian Hykes, Lance Louw, Lloyd Madse, Thornton McDade, Lloyd Norris-Jones, Taine Paton, Wade Paton, Rassie Pieterse, Justin Reid-Ross, Jonathan Robinson, Austin Smith

Women: Tarryn Bright, Dirkie Chamberlain, Pietie Coetzee, Bernadette Coston, Sulette Damons, Illse Davids, Lisa-Marie Deetlefs, Lesley-Ann George, Lenise Marais, Marsha Marescia, Mariette Rix, Shelley Russell, Kathleen Taylor, Nicolene Terblanche, Jennifer Wilson, Kate Woods

Judo:
Gideon van Zyl (73kg)

Rowing:
Men's lightweight coxless four: Matthew Brittain, Sizwe Ndlovu, John Smith, James Thompson

Women's pair: Lee-Ann Persse, Naydene Smith

Sailing:
Asenathi Jim (470 men), Roger Beresford Hudson (470 men).

Shooting:
Alistair Davis (Double trap men)

Triathlon:
Richard Murray, Kate Roberts, Gillian Sanders

Beach volleyball:
Freedom Chiya, Grant Goldschmidt

Weightlifting:
Jean Greeff (94kg)
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