Oscar Pistorius capped a sensational Nedbank Championships for the Physically Disabled when he broke the world record in the 400 metres at Germiston Stadium.
Oscar Pistorius capped a sensational Nedbank Championships for the Physically Disabled when he broke the world record in the 400 metres at Germiston Stadium.
This was Pistorius's fourth gold medal and third world record of the championships as he illustrated once again what a phenomenal sprinter he is.
The 20-year-old clocked a time of 49,16secs, shaving .26secs off the previous world record of 49,42secs.
"It was a very easy, relaxed run today. I came out here to enjoy the run and soak in the atmosphere. The time was a lot slower than anything I've run this season but I'm happy with the Paralympic world record."
Last Wednesday, Pistorius became the first amputee sprinter to dip below the 11secs mark when he broke the 100 metres world record in a time of 10,91secs.
The Pretoria student bettered his great rival, American Marlon Shirley's world record of 11,08secs.
Shirley, a multiple Paralympic gold medallist, has run 10,97secs, but this time has never been ratified.
Later on Wednesday, Pistorius joined David Roos, Arnu Fourie and Johannes Louw to win the 4x100 metres gold medal in a time of 44,31secs, just .03 secs off world record time.
On Thursday, Pistorius clocked a time of 21,58secs to break the 200 metres world record of 21,66secs he set at the World Championships in Holland last year.
Meanwhile, Teboho Mokgalagadi added to his impressive medal tally, with gold in his 400 metres race. Mokgalagadi - a winner of the 100 metres and 200 metres at the Athens Paralympics - ran a time of 1min,06secs.
Hilton Langenhoven and Jonathan Ntutu also won gold in their 400 metres races. Langenhoven in a time of 50,16secs and Ntutu in a time of 53,20secs. Finally, Nicholas Newman took gold in his javelin category, with a throw of 34,03 metres.
In the seven-a-side soccer competition, Western Province and Free State will contest Saturday's gold medal match after the former thumped Central Gauteng 8-1 and the latter edged out OR Tambo 3-2 on penalties. Free State and OR Tambo will play off for the bronze medal. In the Boccia competition, Western Province won gold in the team event, KwaZulu-Natal took silver and Central Gauteng bronze.
In the first pairs event, KwaZulu-Natal won gold, Central Gauteng silver and Gauteng North bronze. In the second pairs event, Western Province claimed gold, KwaZulu-Natal silver, while South West Districts and Free State shared the bronze.
In the individual events, Best Baby (Gauteng North), Ted Reise (WP), Chris Engels (KZN) and Zama Magwaza (KZN) won gold medals. - Sapa
Oscar Pistoriuson top of the world
Oscar Pistorius capped a sensational Nedbank Championships for the Physically Disabled when he broke the world record in the 400 metres at Germiston Stadium.
Oscar Pistorius capped a sensational Nedbank Championships for the Physically Disabled when he broke the world record in the 400 metres at Germiston Stadium.
This was Pistorius's fourth gold medal and third world record of the championships as he illustrated once again what a phenomenal sprinter he is.
The 20-year-old clocked a time of 49,16secs, shaving .26secs off the previous world record of 49,42secs.
"It was a very easy, relaxed run today. I came out here to enjoy the run and soak in the atmosphere. The time was a lot slower than anything I've run this season but I'm happy with the Paralympic world record."
Last Wednesday, Pistorius became the first amputee sprinter to dip below the 11secs mark when he broke the 100 metres world record in a time of 10,91secs.
The Pretoria student bettered his great rival, American Marlon Shirley's world record of 11,08secs.
Shirley, a multiple Paralympic gold medallist, has run 10,97secs, but this time has never been ratified.
Later on Wednesday, Pistorius joined David Roos, Arnu Fourie and Johannes Louw to win the 4x100 metres gold medal in a time of 44,31secs, just .03 secs off world record time.
On Thursday, Pistorius clocked a time of 21,58secs to break the 200 metres world record of 21,66secs he set at the World Championships in Holland last year.
Meanwhile, Teboho Mokgalagadi added to his impressive medal tally, with gold in his 400 metres race. Mokgalagadi - a winner of the 100 metres and 200 metres at the Athens Paralympics - ran a time of 1min,06secs.
Hilton Langenhoven and Jonathan Ntutu also won gold in their 400 metres races. Langenhoven in a time of 50,16secs and Ntutu in a time of 53,20secs. Finally, Nicholas Newman took gold in his javelin category, with a throw of 34,03 metres.
In the seven-a-side soccer competition, Western Province and Free State will contest Saturday's gold medal match after the former thumped Central Gauteng 8-1 and the latter edged out OR Tambo 3-2 on penalties. Free State and OR Tambo will play off for the bronze medal. In the Boccia competition, Western Province won gold in the team event, KwaZulu-Natal took silver and Central Gauteng bronze.
In the first pairs event, KwaZulu-Natal won gold, Central Gauteng silver and Gauteng North bronze. In the second pairs event, Western Province claimed gold, KwaZulu-Natal silver, while South West Districts and Free State shared the bronze.
In the individual events, Best Baby (Gauteng North), Ted Reise (WP), Chris Engels (KZN) and Zama Magwaza (KZN) won gold medals. - Sapa