Double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius selected for London Olympics [UPDATED]

UPDATE: In a surprising decision by South Africa’s Olympic committee, Oscar Pistorius has been selected to run in both the 400-meter run and the 1,600-meter relay, reports the Associated Press. Pistorius had missed the qualifying time needed to compete in the individual event, but in a last-minute decision on Wednesday, the Olympic committee decided to let him race anyway.

ORIGINAL: Double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius, who races on carbon fiber blades, will compete for South Africa’s 1,600-meter relay team at the London Olympics, according to multiple reports on Twitter. He will become the first amputee track athlete to compete in the Olympics.

Pistorius reacted to the news on Twitter after he reached his goal of competing in the Olympics and Paralympics in the same year.

Today is really on of the happiest days of my life! Will be in @London2012 for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games!

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Oscar Pistorius (@OscarPistorius) July 04, 2012

Thank you to everyone that has made me the athlete I am! God, family and friends, my competitors and supporters! You have all had a hand!

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Oscar Pistorius (@OscarPistorius) July 04, 2012

Pistorius narrowly missed the Olympic ‘A’ Standard time he needed to qualify to run in the 400 meters as an individual. Pistorius was less than a quarter-second away from the time of 45.30 in his last attempt to meet the cutoff.