In a surprise last-minute decision, South Africa's Olympic committee select double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius to run the 4x400 relay at the London Olympics.
The 25-year old Pistorious, known as the "Blade Runner", is set to become the first amputee track athlete to ever compete. The runner, who runs on carbon fiber blades, called it "one of the proudest days of my life."
The multiple Paralympics champion, who had both his legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old, will realize his dream to compete at the Olympics and Paralympics in the same year and will get a chance at his career goal.
Pistorius made history last year by qualifying for the world championships at Daegu, South Korea. He won silver with South Africa in the 4x400 as the first amputee competing in the race. However, the decision to leave him out of the final race caused controversy.
South Africa's Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee said Pistorious was picked for the London Games because of athletic achievements. Not because he is the world's most famous disabled athlete.
"As I have said many times before, we are not taking passengers to London," SASCOC President Gideon Sam said . "Everyone has met selection criteria and are genuine Olympic Games material, either now or for 2016. I wish them all the best."
Pistorius set the leading time in South Africa this season when he ran an Olympic-qualifying 45.20 seconds in the 400 at the March meet in Pretoria, his hometown.
However, he failed to set a second time 'A' time at an international competition before Saturday to meet South Africa's strict selection criteria for the individual 400.
Pistorious was selected alongside Willem de Beer, Ofentse Mogawane and Shaun de Jager for the 4x400 race.
