South African double amputee fails to qualify for 400m Olympic race

Oscar Pistorius during the IAAF Golden Gala on July 11, 2008 in Rome, Italy (Photo credit: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Photo Gallery>>(BEIJING, July 18) -- Oscar Pistorius, the South African double amputee who runs on carbon-fiber blades, failed to meet the 400-meter qualifying standard and may thus miss the train to Beijing, according to an Associated Press report.

Pistorius competed in the 400-meter race in the Spitzen Leichtathletik meet in Lucerne, Switzerland on Wednesday, July 16. He came in third with a time of 46.25 seconds. Though he clocked his career best, it was still outside the Olympic qualifying standard of 45.55 seconds.

The 21-year-old South African has not traveled an easy road to realize his dream of competing with able-bodied contenders.

Initially, Pistorius was not allowed to compete against able-bodied athletes because the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) believed the J-shaped blades he used in competition were energy efficient and might give him a technical advantage.

Pistorius appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the sport world's highest tribunal, located in Lausanne, and finally got the decision overturned in May.

He has been training hard ever since.

Though Pistorius has missed his opportunity to compete in the 400m in Beijing, there is still a possibility for him to be included on a six-man roster for the 4x400m relay, according to an AP report

The final composition of South Africa's Athletics team will be released this weekend.

Hailed as a hero by thousands of fans, the determined and inspirational South African athlete has no doubt already proved himself as an exceptional sportsperson.

"I have proved all I need to prove. My job is to be on the track and enjoy what I do," said Pistorius to an Associated Press reporter after the race.

Whether or not Pistorius qualifies for the Olympic relay team, he will compete in the Paralympics Games for sure. The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games begin on September 6.