Amputee runner Pistorius helps South Africa reach relay final

By Yoo Jee-ho
DAEGU, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Amputee runner Oscar Pistorius on Thursday helped his South African team reach the final of the men's 4x400m relay at the World Championships in Athletics.
With Pistorius running the first leg, South Africa finished third in its heat behind the U.S. and Jamaica at 2 minutes and 59.21 seconds, a national record. Ofentse Mogawane, Willem de Beer and Shane Victor rounded out the South African squad.
"It feels great. These guys are unbelievable," Pistorius said. "Every guy did a great leg and did his leg properly. It's unbelievable to be one of the four names on the list to run a national record."
Pistorius had earlier failed to qualify for the final in the men's 400 meters. Known as "Blade Runner" for his prosthetic limbs, he is the first amputee athlete to compete at an able-bodied world championships.
"This makes me extremely proud, and to make the final make me even happier," Pistorius said. "I am glad to be part of Team South Africa."
His presence here has reignited the debate over the potential edge that his artificial limbs give him over others. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) had earlier banned him from its competitions, before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overruled the decision and made him eligible for able-bodied events.
The IAAF caused further controversy on the eve of the championships last week, when Lamine Diack, its president, said Pistorius would have to run the relay in the first leg to avoid dangers to other athletes, especially during baton handover.
Pistorius has countered that he has never had problems in his past relays and that his running the first leg would put South Africa at a disadvantage because of his slow start.
Pistorius said his team will have a meeting Thursday night to discuss whether he will also run in the final, scheduled for Friday.