Known as the ‘Blade Runner’, in August 2011 Oscar Pistorius became the first amputee to win a non-disabled World Championship track medal, as a member of the South African silver medal winning 4 x 400 metres relay team, in Daegu, South Korea. Pistorius, aged 25, was born with a congenital absence of the fibula and his legs were amputated below the knee when he was 11-months-old. Now he runs with the aid of carbon fibre blades.
With his 400 metres time of 45.07 secs in July, he achieved the qualifying standard for the World Championships and was selected for the South Africa team. He took part in the individual 400 metres in Daegu and reached the semi-finals before being eliminated after running a time of 46.19 secs. In the relay, he took part in the heats, which secured his silver medal, although he was not chosen for the final.
