Blade Runner: Double Amputee Oscar Pistorius Earns Spot On Olympic Team

Oscar Pistorius is going to the London Olympics. The double amputee, nicknamed “Blade Runner,” has earned a spot on South Africa’s 4×400 relay team.

According to USA Today, Pistorious will be the first amputee track athlete to ever compete at the Olympic Games.

Blade Runner posted on Twitter:

“Today is really one of the happiest days of my life. I will be in London for both the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games… Thank you to everyone that has made me the athlete I am! God, family and friends, my competitors and supporters! You have all had a hand!”

Pistorius will be running with Willem de Beer, Ofentse Mogawane and Shaun de Jager for the 4×400 race.

ESPN reports that Blade Runner will also run in the 400 individual event. The “Fastest Man With No Legs” missed the qualifying time in South Africa by.22 seconds but since he won the silver during the South Africa final the Olympic Committee has cleared him to race.

South African Olympic chief Gideon Sam said:

“It has taken four years, but now we can concentrate on doing our best at the Games. The preparation has been done and now it is up to our athletes to take over in London and show us what they are made of…. As I have said many times before, we are not taking passengers to London. Everyone has met selection criteria and are genuine Olympic Games material. I wish them all the best.”

Pistorius, 25, runs on carbon fiber blades. Here’s a video of the Blade Runner in action.