ITALY/SOUTH AFRICA: ATHLETICS - Oscar Pistorius celebrates the granting of his appeal to run against able-bodies opponents

Record ID: 453906

  • Title: ITALY/SOUTH AFRICA: ATHLETICS - Oscar Pistorius celebrates the granting of his appeal to run against able-bodies opponents
  • Date: 17th May 2008
  • Summary: CLOSE AMPIE LOUW
  • Embargoed: 1st June 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAF0VR6EP98REVNYP5MP6E35UEX
  • Story Text: Double amputee Oscar Pistorius can try to qualify for the Beijing Olympics after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld his appeal on Friday (May 16).
    In Milan Pistorius was applauded at a news conference.

    "I think this day is going to go down in history for the equality of disabled people," he said. "I think it's such a significant day in sports but as I say I am so happy about the outcome. It's just..the last two days have been stressful but you know the outcome has been one of the best days of my life."
    The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruled in January that runner Pistorius could not compete with able-bodied athletes because the carbon-fibre blades attached to both legs gave him an advantage.
    The 21 year-old appealed to CAS, which ruled in his favour on Friday following a hearing with various scientists at the end of last month.
    CAS Secretary General Mathieu Reeb read out the judgement, saying: "In the appeal process, the tribunal has reviewed the scientific evidence brought by the parties, and has concluded that the IAAF did not establish that the prosthesis used by Oscar Pistorius give him an advantage over other athletes who are not using the same device."
    Reeb reminded Pistorius that the appeal only gave him the right to compete for qualification for the Olympic Games provided he was wearing the same specification of "blades".
    Pistorius confirmed he would run in able-bodied races in Milan on July 2 and at the Rome Golden Gala on July 11, where he competed last year and endeared himself to Italian fans.
    The 400 metres will be his main target but he is realistic that he has a decreased chance of making the August 8-24 Games with the qualifying deadline in late July. He has missed the South African season, and would have to beat his previous best to attain the qualifying time.
    Pistorius, who won gold in the 200 metres and bronze in the 100 metres at the 2004 Athens Paralympics, was emphatic that he would compete in this year's Paralympics in September whether he qualified for the able-bodied Games or not.
    His coach Ampie Louw was delighted by the ruling. He declared that he would be training Pistorius for the World Championships in two years time at the very least.

    "I will go for the gold, whatever it means, and thats the way he is, and if he is down in the blocks, he always go for the win, and that is what I like about him. So, what we will do is we will in any case at least try to prepare him for, on my side as a coach for World Championships in two years time for the final."
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