The 25-year-old from Johannesburg, who was crowned the 2012 Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability last month, became the first amputee athlete to compete at the able-bodied World Athletics Championships at Daegu in 2011 where he reached the 400 metres semi-final and ran as part of the South African squad that secured silver in the 4x400m relay.

He is now aiming to compete at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games this year and just needs to better the 45.30sec mark in the 400m once between now and the end of June in order to do so.

But he said that he must cope with the huge media attention on him – because of his Olympic bid – and deal with it properly in order to be able to make it to the Games.

"There's always a lot of attention at big meets and that's something that every sportsman has to deal with," he said here in Barcelona.

"But there are times where you can focus and at the World Championships last year we hosted a press conference, got it done and dusted, and then I just tried to stay away from the news reports on my computer and phone.

"You just have to focus on what you have to do.

"At the end of the day it's a job.

"It's just one of those times when you're meant to focus, you need to get your head down and graft.

"It is easier said than done but I think my experiences at last year's World Championships in Daegu will definitely be useful this year at London 2012."


Pistorius had his lower legs amputated at age one and is now the double-amputee world record holder in the T44 100, 200m and 400m.

In 2008, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruled that Pistorius could not compete in any events sanctioned by the governing body after it banned the use of any technical device that incorporates springs, wheels or any other element that provides a user with an advantage over another athlete not using such a device.

However, the decision was reversed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) who ruled that there was no evidence Pistorius had any net advantage over able-bodied athletes.

He now says that he is in great shape and ready to qualify for London 2012.

"I'm in top training currently, all is better than last year," he said.

"I'm lighter and faster."

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