I LOST MY LEGS IN SALT LAKE CITY

By Richard Lewis, sundaymirror.co.uk 15/07/2007

Athletics

PARALYMPIC STAR RUNS IN SHEFFIELD

OSCAR PISTORIUS has revealed the extraordinary time he landed for a race in Atlanta - and found his legs were in Salt Lake City.

South Africa's Paralympic star makes history at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Sheffield tonight by running against the world's elite 400 metres men, including America's Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner.

Pistorius, 20, will run wearing his famous J-shaped prosthetic limbs which have earned him the nickname Blade Runner.

It should be a fascinating race - and Pistorius insists his appearance is not a gimmick.

But he has learned one lesson - now he makes sure he keeps his £4,000 legs with him on a plane.

He said: "I was running in Atlanta and the legs ended up in Salt Lake City after my bags went missing. The one thing you don't want to do is lose the socket because it is a unique shape to fit your leg."

Yet it now means that when he is flying around the world, it takes him treble the time to check in.

"People are sceptical at airports, particularly when they don't know about me," said Pistorius. "Where it might take someone 20 minutes to go through security, it can take me an hour because I have to explain the legs."

Pistorius had both legs amputated just below the knee at 11 months after being born without fibula bones. He was facing life in a wheelchair if his parents had not decided on the operation.

But he has gone on to become the biggest star of the Paralympics - and now he wants to make his own mark on the Olympic stage.

In Athens in 2004, he won the 200m gold at the Paralympics and holds world records in the 100m, 200m and 400m. His 400m best time is 46.34sec and he is determined to lower that to 45.95, which will give him a chance of qualifying for Beijing next summer.

His appearance in Sheffield will be the first time a disabled runner has competed on such a level with champions such as Wariner.

The International Association Of Athletics Federations are still investigating whether Pistorius's carbon fibre legs give him extra speed. He said: "I understand the negativity, but the legs are not bionic. They do not give more energy, so I'm not gaining an advantage."

British star Tim Benjamin, who misses tonight's race, has mixed feelings about Pistorius being involved. He said: "With his personal best, he should not be in the race because he is not fast enough.

"But there are flip sides to it. It is a good message and I really do hope he does well."