LONDON (AP) ― Oscar Pistorius completed his groundbreaking dual-games trip to London by finally winning an individual gold, defending his Paralympic 400 meters title in the last competition in the Olympic Stadium on Saturday.
The original “Blade Runner” lost his 100 and 200 Paralympic titles this week, but eased to victory in his preferred 400 event in 46.68 seconds, more than 3 seconds ahead of Blake Leeper of the United States.
“It was very, very special for me ― it was the last event of my season, it was the last event of the London 2012 Games,” said Pistorius, who anchored South Africa’s 400 relay team to victory Wednesday. “It was my 11th time I was able to come out on the track and I just wanted to end and give the crowd something they would appreciate and take home with them.
Oscar Pistorius wins the gold medal in the men’s 400-meter T44 final. (AP-Yonhap News)
“I was very nervous before today’s race. I was quite tired.”
But he mustered more than enough energy before 80,000 spectators to demolish the opposition for the first time in London, where he came to defend three Paralympic titles but surrendered all but one.
The trip to London was about more than medals, though. After years of legal fights, he became the first amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics a month ago, reaching the 1,600 relay final and the semifinal of the individual 400.
“I’m so proud,” he said in a broadcast interview. “This summer has been a dream come true. I couldn’t hope for anything better.”
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
