Win, lose or draw, the 24-year-old South African was about to make history as the first amputee athlete to race in the IAAF World Championships, an accomplishment he had been working towards for three years, ever since the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had ruled that there was no evidence to suggest that the carbon fibre "blades" he has below his knees gave him an unfair advantage over able-bodied athletes.

That decision was, and perhaps may yet be, fiercely debated.

But Pistorius's dreaming will continue for at least another day of competition, as he qualified comfortably for tomorrow's semi-finals by taking the third of the four automatic places in a time of 45.39sec.

"He wanted to win," commented Seb Coe, the newly re-confirmed IAAF vice-president, who is in a pretty good position to recognise such a desire in an athlete having demonstrated it to historic effect in his own track career.

"I had a good race," said Pistorius, who had energised his bond with a home crowd already chanting his name by indulging in a bravura practice start which took him most of the way around the bottom bend.

The level of support, much of it seemingly generated by young voices, redoubled.

"I'm just pleased to be part of this sport, of this event," the South African added.

"Being here has been a goal I have had for many years. I have worked extremely hard to be here.

"It has been phenomenal to run today.

"There has been a lot of pressure on the race, and there is a lot of work for tomorrow.

"I need to be as consistent as today."


There had been a few worrying moments, however, before the race got underway, as the gun fired again for a false start and disqualification.

As the official marched up the field - past lane one, past lane two, past lane three, past lane four – you feared history was about to turn into a cross between tragedy and farce.

But he stopped at five and waved the red card at the unfortunate Abdou Razack Rabo Samma of Nigeria.

It sounds harsh, but most people were mightily relieved.

At the end there was a warm hug waiting for Pistorius from his friend, Britain's Martyn Rooney, who also qualified in 45.30.

"Myself and Oscar are good friends," Rooney said.

"He said a prayer for me and you don't get that from a lot of competitors.

"I am happy for him.

"There are too many people playing up the negative like he is ruining the Paralymics, but I don't think so.

"He is publicising it as a World semi-finalist."

He is certainly publicising the sport in Korea.

As he left the stadium, for the first of a succession of media interviews, the youngsters sitting in the sunshine which has finally decided to turn up here were still chanting his name. "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar..."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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