South Africa
American Blake Leeper broke South African Oscar Pistorius’s T43 paralympic world record in the 400 metres when he ran 45.25 seconds at the U.S. athletics championships on Friday, officials said.
“It is hard to believe. To run 45.25 to break the world record, I am excited for the future,” said the 27-year-old Tennessee native who lives in Southern California.
Leeper finished a non-advancing seventh in the semi-final race despite competing as a double amputee.
Pistorius set his record of 45.39 seconds at Daegu, South Korea in August, 2011.
Paralympic gold medallist Pistorius is serving a six-year jail term after being found guilty of murdering his girlfriend in 2013.
REUTERS
Go to video
Burkina Faso Suspends BBC and Voice of America
02:04
2024 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival kicks off
01:13
Arab League deplores US veto denying Palestine full UN membership
01:50
Guinness World Record: Chess champion returns home to Lagos
Go to video
Botswana rejects controversial UK proposal on asylum-seekers
01:46
Usain Bolt hails Jude Bellingham's impact at Real Madrid