Oscar closes athletics programme in style

By Paul Carter

“Blade runner” Oscar Pistorius claimed the final track gold of the 2008 Paralympics as he won the T44 400m with a truly stunning display.

Pistorius dismantled the World and Paralympic record of 51.24 by storming to victory in a time of 47.51, a time that was still a second outside of his personal best.

With a better start than he achieved out of the blocks in the 200m, the South African was already holding his own after the first 100m.

However, once he reached his stride at around 200m, there was only ever going to be one winner and he crossed the line with around 20m to spare on the rest of the field.

Pistorius said: “I’m so dizzy and so tired. The 400m is always a gruesome event! I’m so ecstatic, I couldn’t be happier with the way everything’s gone over the past two weeks and to finish with an occasion like this is just fantastic.”

British athlete Ian Jones put in a great effort, keeping pace with Pistorius early on, but faded dramatically in the final stages. But he still managed to hold on for his second bronze medal of the Games.

“My legs had nothing left,” he said. “They completely seized and went on me but I can’t complain. I got another medal. My target was to come here and have fun and that’s what I’ve done.”