“Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius won 400m gold in world-record time to complete a Beijing Paralympics sprint treble yesterday.
The South African powered clear of his rivals to finish in 47.49secs, ahead of America’s Jim Bob Bizzell and British runner Ian Jones.
“I didn’t feel so good coming out tonight so I’m extremely happy with the race. It was the last race of the Paralympics,” Pistorius told reporters.
PHOTO: CNA
His victory on the last night of track and field follows wins in his category in the 100m and 200m races earlier in the Games.
Pistorius has proved himself a strong competitor against able-bodied athletes. Among his best achievements was a second in the 400m event at last year’s South African national championships.
Meanwhile Canadian wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc yesterday joined swimmers Natalie du Toit from South Africa and Australia’s Matthew Cowdrey as one of the stars of the Games with five golds.
Victory in the 1,500m for Petitclerc adds to golds in the 100m, 200m and 400m and 800m competitions for the 38-year-old.
The Games that have been widely praised for their organisation and the huge crowds that have turned out to watch the sport, particularly at the athletics track and field events and swimming.
British organizers of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics yesterday praised the “spectacular” delivery of both events but said they were not daunted by the challenge of following China.
Speaking about the Paralympics, London 2012 organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe said they would be remembered for “elite sport, superb organisation, stunning venues and spectacular opening and closing ceremonies.”
Controversies over drugs and classification problems have been among the few issues to cloud the Games.
On Sunday Britain’s Rebecca Chin was stripped of second place over a classifying issue in the women’s discus which followed the banning of Irish soccer player Derek Malone because authorities had deemed him not disabled enough.
Meanwhile four athletes were kicked out of the Games for doping offenses.
Taiwanese Paralympians
TUESDAY, SEPT. 16
Powerlifting
Men’s +100kg Final
Huang Kuo-tai placed 4th
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