The 25-year-old double leg amputee from Johannesburg ran the blistering time, comfortably inside the International Association of Athletics Federations A-qualifying standard of 45.30, to win his race at the Provincial Championships for Gauteng North in a selection event for the South African National Championships.

It comes after Pistorius ran a personal best of 45.07 last July in Lignano in Italy, a feat that allowed him to become the first amputee athlete to compete at the able-bodied World Athletics Championships at Daegu in 2011.

There he reached the 400 metres semi-final and ran as part of the South African squad that secured silver in the 4x400m relay.

The time he ran in Italy meant that he needed to better the 45.30 mark just once between now and the end of June in order to make the Olympics and it is a major boost that he has achieved the feat so early in the year, having only just started his season.

"I am absolutely thrilled to have run the Olympic qualification time today," said Pistorius.

"This is a huge moment for me and I am trying to take it all in.

"The race went well and the conditions were perfect – I could feel every step of the way that my race plan was in motion, I felt strong out there and when I crossed the line and saw the time it was such a magical moment for me.

"I am looking forward to hopefully being confirmed by SASCOC (South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee) as a member of the South African Olympic team and I will do everything I can to train and prepare to the best of my ability and I would be proud to compete for my country at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"On behalf of all the team behind me, thank you so much for your continued support."

It is highly likely that Pistorius will now be selected for the individual 400m event at the Olympics by SASCOC, as well as the South African 4x400m relay team.

But Pistorius will be looking to run in the T44 100, 200 and 400m at the Paralympic Games less than one month later where he is the defending champion and world record holder in all three disciplines.

The feat of qualifying for the Olympics marks a remarkable start to 2012 for the South African, who last month picked up the 2012 Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability for the first time, having been nominated for the prestigious prize on three occasions.

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