Bladerunner's last chance saloon

Updated 16.03 Fri Jul 11 2008

Keywords: Oscar Pistorius

The remarkable journey of double-amputee Oscar Pistorius will reach its potentially penultimate chapter in Rome, where he will attempt to achieve the Olympic qualifying time.

The South African, 21, is already a world record-holder for the 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres Paralympic events and is nicknamed the "Blade Runner", so-called for his carbon fibre prosthetic lower legs.

The South African, 21, is already a world record-holder for the 100m, 200m and 400m Paralympic events and is nicknamed the "Blade Runner", so called for his carbon fibre prosthetic lower legs

However, it is his dream to participate with able-bodied athletes at the Beijing Olympics - but in order to book his flight on the plane to China, he must first run the 400 metres in 45.55 seconds.

Last week, he could only manage a disappointing 47.78 seconds - and he only has one more chance to master the qualifying time if he fails in Rome.

But he is fully aware of the task at hand and will refuse to get disconsolate should he fail to qualify.

Competing in the London Olympics is a "far more realistic" goal, he said, adding: "It's an extremely difficult goal.

"Sometimes I ask myself if I'm being realistic."