First runner to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games

Oscar Pistorius (South Africa) made Olympic history on 4 August 2012 when he ran in the first heat of the first round of the men's 400 m in the Olympic Stadium, London, UK. Pistorius, aka "The Blade Runner", who had both his lower legs amputated at 11 months old and runs with carbon-fibre prosthetic blades, is the first double amputee to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Pistorius clocked 45.44 seconds in round 1, heat 1 of the 400 m to qualify for the semi-finals. Pistorius has won four gold medals in the T44 class at the Paralympic Games: 200 m at Athens 2004 and 100 m, 200 m and 400 m at Beijing 2008. He also won bronze in the 100 m at Athens 2004. Due to the debate over his prosthetic limbs, the BBC described Pistorius as the "second most famous athlete in the world" behind Usain Bolt on 4 August 2012.