Pistorius falters in first 400-meter Olympic bid

Source: Agencies  |   2008-7-4  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

DOUBLE amputee Oscar Pistorius failed in his first bid to reach the Olympic 400-meter qualification time at an athletics meeting in Milan on Wednesday.

The South African, who runs with carbon fiber blades attached below the knees, is entitled to compete against able-bodied runners following a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling in May.

The 21-year-old needed to clock 45.55 to qualify for the individual race at next month's Beijing Games but instead ran 47.78 to finish fourth.

He has another chance to reach the mark at the Rome Golden Gala on July 11 and at a meeting in Lucerne, Switzerland, five days later after Athletics South Africa gave him extra time to try to qualify.

"I am a bit disappointed. I didn't expect to be wonderful but I didn't expect to be this bad," Pistorius told reporters.

"But I have to be realistic about it. I haven't run in about a year."

Fiorenzo Moscatelli of Italy won the race in 47.26 seconds.

Pistorius led at the final turn, but faded in the last 100 meters. Afterward, he sat down in disappointment for several minutes on the infield. "I went out too fast and I didn't have any energy left at the end," he said. "I've got to go back and take a look at my tactics. Usually I have a slower start."

Pistorius' career best is 46.36.

The South African, winner of the 200 gold medal and 100 bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympics, may still be able to run in his country's relay team in Beijing even if he does not manage the individual time.

In another standout race at the Notturna di Milano meet, Italy's Olympic 20 kilometer walk champion Ivano Brugnetti geared up for Beijing with victory in the men's 5km walk in 19:07.72, more than 30 seconds ahead of double world 50K bronze medalist Alex Schwazer.