PARALYMPICS LONDON 2012: Pistorius hails his 'special moment' after storming to 400m gold

By Sportsbeat staff, London 2012

AFTER that defeat and the rant that followed, Oscar Pistorius has restored his place as the darling of the Paralympics.

SALUTE: Oscar Pistorius clocks 46.68 seconds - a new Paralympic record but well off his personal best - to win the 400m gold, the final track and field event of London 2012

Just as Usain Bolt transcends athletics, the South African Bladerunner transcends the Paralympics - and his popularity, even after his ill-chosen remarks following silver in the 200m earlier this week, didn't distract from his status as the darling of the crowd.

Pistorius's winning time 46.68 seconds was a Paralympic record but much slower than his 45.07 sec personal best, the effects of running the Olympics and then the Paralympics in an emotional month perhaps taking their toll.

Defeat to Brazil's Alan Oliveira was a shock, his loss to Great Britain's Jonnie Peacock over 100m was no great surprise but failing to win over one lap would have been perhaps the biggest upset of the last six weeks here in Stratford.

But his winning margin, three-and-a-half seconds, underlined his dominance with his only race really against the clock as Americans Blake Leeper and David Prince completed the podium.

After the sour grapes, this was his champagne moment.

“It was very, very special to win the last track and field event of London 2012,” said Pistorius, who made the Olympic 400m semi-final last month.

“It’s my 11th time on this track and I wanted to give the crowd something special that they could take home with them.

“I’ve had quite a few nerves but the crowd kept me going and for the first time I was thinking about something apart from my race coming into the home straight.

“It’s great to finish the year on a good note. This whole month, this whole season, I’ve had a lot of challenges and I have a lot to thank my coach for. I’m so proud, this summer has been a dream come true and I couldn’t hope for anything better.

“Lord Coe and Locog have produced the most amazing Olympic and Paralympic Games, it’s been the biggest highlight of my life.”

© Sportsbeat 2012