• World Athletics Championships

Historic Pistorius follows Rooney into semi-finals

Oscar Pistorius and Martyn Rooney embrace © Getty Images

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Oscar Pistorius made history on Sunday morning, as he qualified for the semi-finals of the men's 400m at the World Championships in Daegu.

The South African, who runs with the aid of two carbon fibre blades after having his legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old, came third in his heat to move comfortably into the next round after a time of 45.39 seconds.

Chris Brown of the Bahamas won the heat in a time of 45.29s, pipping Team GB's Martyn Rooney who came in second.

But all the focus was on Pistorius, as the 24-year-old became both the first amputee athlete to race in the World Championships and also the first to qualify from a round.

"I am tired, I need to cool down now, to relax, refocus and chat with my coach," Pistorius said afterwards. "I had a good race. I'm just pleased to be part of this sport, of this event. Being here has been a goal I have had for many years. I have worked extremely hard to be here.

"It has been phenomenal to run today. There has been a lot of pressure on the race, and there is a lot of work for tomorrow. I need to be as consistent as today."

Rooney has been a supporter of the South African for a long time, and believes his performance can only be good for the sport.

"Myself and Oscar are good friends. He said a prayer for me and you don't get that from a lot of competitors," he said. "I am happy for him. There are too many people playing up the negative like he is ruining the Paralympics but I don't think so.

"He is publicising it as a world semi-finalist."

World and Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt was the fastest man of the round, the American qualifying in a time of 44.35s.

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