OSCAR PISTORIUS admitted that Paralympic events will still figure prominently in his plans after he was cleared to compete against able-bodied athletes.
The double amputee won his appeal at the Court for Arbitration for Sport (CAS) who overruled an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ban on him competing in their meetings.
The 21-year-old South African revealed even if he
is successful and gets the 400metres qualifying standard for the Olympic Games in August, he still plans to return to Beijing for the Paralympic a few weeks later.
“Most definitely. I have learned so much from them I will definitely be there whether or not I make the Olympics – they are so special,” said the 2004 Paralympic 200m gold medallist.
Pistorius was thrilled after his legal team overturned the IAAF’s ruling in January that his Cheetah Flex-Foot prosthetic legs gave him an unfair advantage and has already mapped out a rigorous racing schedule.
“The result will finally cut out all of the rumours and I’m going to do as much preparation as I can to try and get through the qualifier for the Olympics.”
The “Blade Runner” intends to prepare himself with three or four Paralympic outings in the Netherlands and Germany later this month, before he begins his chase for the Olympic 400m qualifying standard at able-bodied meetings.
The full article contains 234 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
