• World Athletics Championships

Pistorius fails in final bid

Oscar Pistorius finished last in his semi-final © Getty Images

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Double amputee Oscar Pistorius failed to reach the 400m final at the World Athletics Championships in South Korea.

The triple Paralympic champion, who made history by becoming the first amputee to race in the competition, finished last in his semi-final in a time of 45.39 seconds. Defending champion LaShawn Merritt qualified with the fastest time, while Britain's Martin Rooney missed out after finishing seventh in his semi-final.

"My goal was to make the semi-final and I did that," Pistorius said. "It's been a great experience. It was not as quick as I wanted to be but it's great to have this platform to run on and it's been an unbelievable experience. I'll be back for the relay.

"I'm a realist so for me to make the final, well I wasn't running close to those times. I never had. This is the championship I have worked for for many years. It's been a massive blessing."

Pistorius has been told he is allowed to compete in the 4x400m relay, but he must run the opening leg to avoid potential injuries to other athletes in the changeover.

In the women's 400m final, Amantle Montsho made history as she became the first Botswanan athlete to win a medal at the World Championships with a hard-fought win over Allyson Felix. Montsho pipped Felix to victory in a photo finish, her winning time of 49.56 seconds just 0.03 seconds quicker than the American, while Russia's Anastasiya Kapachinskaya claimed bronze.

Following the drama of the men's 100m final on Sunday, there was no such controversy in the women's sprint as an emotional Carmelita Jeter claimed gold in a time of 10.97 seconds. Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown took silver while Kelly-Ann Baptiste was a surprise bronze medallist as Olympic and defending champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce finished fourth.

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