Pistorius set to sizzle at Paralympics

South Africa's Oscar Pistorius, the first double amputee to compete at an Olympics when he ran in the 400m and 4x400m relay in London, now has his sights on defending three Paralympic titles.

The 25-year-old won gold in the men's T44 100m, 200m and 400m in Beijing four years ago and is hoping to repeat that feat in the British capital when the Games get underway next week.

"I am really looking forward to them. I think they will be the best ever. It makes me stoked to come out here in this stadium again," he said.

But the athlete known as the Blade Runner because he runs on carbon fibre blades could have his work cut out, particularly in the 100m, amid predictions that the sprint will be the race of the Games and all eight finalists could go under 11 seconds.

The field is likely to include Britain's Jonnie Peacock, who lowered the world record to 10.85sec earlier this year, as well as the South African's longstanding rival Jerome Singleton, of the United States, from whom he snatched gold in 2008.

Others likely to line up include South Africa's Arnu Fourie, who beat Pistorius earlier this year, and American Jaryd Wallace, the 2011 Parapan American Games champion who has run faster than Singleton.

The Johannesburg-born runner Pistorius had both legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old after being born without lower leg bones.

But he played sports unhindered while growing up, switching to running after fracturing a knee playing rugby.

At high school, he was so good that his personal fitness coach said she was unaware for six months that he ran on prosthetic legs.

But he was initially banned from competing in the Olympics in Beijing by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on the grounds that his blades gave him an unfair advantage.

That decision was later overturned on appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), although he ultimately failed to meet the Olympic qualifying standard time.

He went on to win a silver medal as part of the 4x400m relay team at the 2011 World Championships in South Korean city of Daegu before representing his country in London this year.

On August 4 he ran in the 400m individual heats, finishing second in a season's best 45.44sec, achieving his goal of reaching the semi-finals.

He failed to qualify for the final but went on to run in the relay. Even though South Africa finished last, Pistorius said he would not swap the experience.

Photo: Getty Images