Pistorius let off the hook before 100m tussle with British hopeful
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Your support makes all the difference.Oscar Pistorius will escape punishment for his outburst in the aftermath of his shock defeat in the T43/44 200m final on Sunday. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said they would not sanction the South African following his post-race protest that the Brazilian winner Alan Oliveira had an unfair advantage because of his elongated blades. "There will be no disciplinary action," said Craig Spence, communications director of the IPC.
Pistorius will be back in action in the Olympic Stadium tonight, running in the heats of the T43/44 100m. In addition to Oliveira, who improved his personal best by 0.43sec to win the 200m in 21.45sec, the 25-year-old will also have to contend with the razor-sharp British Blade Runner Jonnie Peacock.
Peacock, above, happens to be the fastest amputee in history. Running at the US Paralympic Trials at the University of Indiana in June, the 19-year-old from Cambridge clocked 10.85sec for 100m. In doing so, he broke the world record for the T44 single amputee category, held by Marlon Shirley of the USA. His time was also 0.06sec quicker than the T43 double amputee world record held by Pistorius since 2007.
Peacock lost his right leg below the knee after contracting meningococcal septicaemia at the age of five. His speed was spotted at a talent identification day held by the British Paralympic Association at London's Mile End Stadium four years ago. For the past 12 months he has been training as a full-time athlete at the UK Athletics National Performance Centre at Lee Valley in north London, under Dan Pfaff.
Pfaff guided Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey to Olympic 100m gold in Atlanta in 1996 and the American coach had a gold medal success at the 2012 Olympics in the shape of British long jumper Greg Rutherford. Peacock trains alongside Rutherford in an eclectic group that also includes pole vaulter Steve Lewis and javelin thrower Goldie Sayers.
"Jonnie is a very special talent," Rutherford said. "He is an amazing sprinter and I expect him to win at the Paralympics. The track in the Olympic Stadium is fast and I expect him to run around the 10.6secs mark or even faster."
Peacock himself said: "It's a great group to be in. I do some work with Greg over 30m. He's very fast. It was absolutely brilliant when he won the Olympic final. I was so happy for him. He deserved it."
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