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London Olympics | Oscar Pistorius

South Africa's Oscar Pistorius, aka the 'Blade Runner' because of his carbon-fiber prosthetics, takes off from the starting blocks in the first round of heats for the 400-meter race at the London Olympics on Saturday.

South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius, aka the ‘Blade Runner’ because of his carbon-fiber prosthetics, takes off from the starting blocks in the first round of heats for the 400-meter race at the London Olympics on Saturday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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In his first Olympic action, the double amputee track athlete from South Africa advances in the 400 meters.

Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius sprints toward the finish line in the first round of the 400 meters. The double amputee from South Africa finished second in his heat to qualify for the semifinals.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Oscar Pistorius

Dominican Republic’s Luguelin Santos leads South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius in a men’s 400-meter qualifying heat on Saturday in London.  (David J. Phillip / Associated Press)

Oscar Pistorius

South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius, running on carbon-fiber prosthetics, qualified for the next round in the 400-meter race.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius, who finished second in his 400-meter heat to advance to the semifinals at the London Olympics on Saturday, was born without a fibula in either leg.  (Paul Gilham / Getty Images)

Oscar Pistorius

Luguelin Santos of Dominican Republic shakes hands with Oscar Pistorius of South Africa after finishing first and second, respectively, in their heat of the 400-meter qualifying on Saturday.  (Michael Steele / Getty Images)

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