LONDON (AP) ― Oscar Pistorius’ plan now is to go even quicker at the next Olympics.
The double-amputee sprinter said he’s setting his sights on Rio de Janeiro in 2016 after finishing last in his 400-meter semifinal at the London games on Sunday night.
“In 2016, I’ll probably be at my peak in Rio. I’m looking forward to that more than anything,” he said. He will turn 30 in November of that year.
The South African still expects to run the 4x400 relays here, which start Thursday. Then he will try to defend his 100, 200 and 400 titles at the Paralympics.
Oscar Pistorius crosses the finish line in the men’s 400-meter semifinal heat. (UPI-Yonhap News)
After that, Pistorius’ immediate goal is to break 45 seconds in the 400.
He ran 46.54 ― way slower than his career best of 45.07 ― in lane 5 on his carbon-fiber blades in the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium on Sunday, before a packed crowd that again gave him a resounding cheer. His was nearly 2 seconds slower than the winner of his semifinal, Kirani James of Grenada, the world champion.
The first double-amputee to compete at the Olympics was undone, as has happened so often, by his sluggish start ― a result, in part, of not having feet to push off against the starting blocks.
His reaction time out of the blocks was the slowest of the 24 semifinalists.
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
