Oscar Pistorius was chosen to compete in the individual 400 meters at the London Olympics even after he failed to meet the qualifications on June 29 at the African Championships.
Originally only chosen for the 1,600-meter relay, South Africa’s Olympic committee allowed Pistorius, a double amputee, to be included as one of the 13 athletes on Team South Africa and to run in the indiviudal 400 meters after failing to meet the qualifications by less than a quarter of a second.
“Today is truly one of the proudest days of my life,” Pistorius said in a statement on his website. “To have been selected to represent Team South Africa at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the individual 400 meter and the 1,600-meter relay is a real honor and I am so pleased that years of hard work, determination and sacrifice have all come together.”