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
02:20
South African circus gives young performers a new route forward
01:56
South Africa: Olifantsfontein residents hold vigil for woman found dead
02:01
Johannesburg’s waste crisis leaves communities surrounded by illegal dumps
02:00
Protesters target OpenAI and Anthropic in San Francisco over AI safety fears
01:41
Women living in fear after body of ninth victim found outside Johannesburg
02:03
US again denies Palestinian leader Abbas visa to attend UN assembly