Host China reaped its bumpest single-day harvest in the athletics of the Beijing Paralympics on Saturday, taking five out of 20 gold medals on offer, while South Africa's "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius caught the limelight with his second gold.
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"Blade runner" Oscar Pistorius of South Africa crosses the finish line during men's 200m T44 final at the National Stadium,also known as the Bird's Nest, during the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, Sept. 13, 2008. Pistorius won the gold medal with 21.67 seconds. [Chen Xiaowei/Xinhua]
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Pistorius, nicknamed the "Blade Runner" for his J-shaped carbon-fiber blades, crossed the finish line in 21.67 seconds to add the 200m title to his 100m gold and set a new 200m Paralympics record.
The 21-year-old eyes another gold in the 400m for a triple-gold glory. "It's just a different distance, but I will still be myself. I will carry on and go forward to the final," he said.
Pistorius was born without his fibula, the smaller of the two bones in the lower legs, and when he was 11 months old both limbs were amputated below the knees.