Pistorius sets world record in Paralympics

12:49, 2 September 2012

LONDON. September 2. KAZINFORM South African double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius, who made headlines at the Olympics, set a world record on Saturday in London in defense of the first of his three Paralympic titles.

On day three of the Games, he ran 21.30 in men's 200m-T44 title in the first round Saturday evening, easily besting other racers in his heat. The paralympic movement classifies events, using terms like T44, to group competitors based on their disability, according to CNN.

His biggest threats in Sunday's gold-medal final will include Brazilian Alan Fonteles Cardoso Oliveira, American sprinter Blake Leeper and South Africa's Arnu Fourie, based on their qualifying times.

Pistorius, who uses carbon fiber prosthetic blades, made it to the semifinals of the individual 400-meter and the 400-meter relay final at the Olympics last month, running against able-bodied athletes.

In the Paralympics, which are the also being held in London, Pistorius is also competing in the men's 100-meter-T44 (set for next Wednesday and Thursday) and the 400-meter-T44 (happening Friday and Saturday), both of which he won in Beijing four years ago. He's also part of South Africa's 4 X 100-meter T42/T46 relay team, which is scheduled to race Wednesday.

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