(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons )



BY DANNY MATTESON

ANCHOR CANDICE AVILES

 

South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius, who became a household name during the 2012 London Olympics, was defeated in a shocking upset at the 2012 Paralympics on Sunday. Racing in the 200-meter sprint, seen here , 25-year-old Pistorius was overtaken by Brazilian Alan Oliviera who won the race in 21.45 seconds — just .07 seconds faster than Pistorius.

 

Pistorius was gracious immediately following the race but soon took the issue to the International Paralympic Committee, claiming that Oliveira’s blade’s were longer than regulation length. Pistorius called the loss “ridiculous” and, referring to Oliveira said…

 

"He's never run a 21 second-race and I don't think he's a 21-second athlete. I've never lost a 200-metre race in my career."



Oliveira responded by showing respect for the South African, but said his comments were tough to take in.

 

"He is a really great idol, and to listen to that coming from a really great athlete is really difficult."

 

Pistorius later apologized for the timing of his comments but stuck by his complaints about blade length, adding, “I do believe there is an issue here.”



And The Telegraph seems to agree — noting that the way Oliveira won was out of the ordinary.

 

“ … the manner of Oliveira’s victory did suggest that something strange was going on. He was eight metres down on Pistorius at the 100-metre mark before hitting an extraordinary top speed to overtake the South African a few metres from the finish line.”

 

But a Guardian sports writer says Pistorius’ complaint that Oliveira took unusually long strides thanks to longer blades — just doesn’t add up.

 

“I rewatched the race and did the obvious thing: I counted the strides. It turns out that Pistorius took 92 steps during the race ... and Oliveira took 98 steps … It's Oliveira who ‘can't compete with Oscar's stride length’.”

 

The International Paralympic Committee contends that all blades were measured and of regulation length. They have agreed to meet with Pistorius to discuss the issue further.