Blade Runner plays down fans' expectations during London Olympics

Rome, July 18(ANI): Popular sporting hero Oscar Pistorius, who is on the brink of becoming the first double amputee to participate in Olympics, has cautioned fans not to expect too much from him.

Pistorius, also known as the ' Blade Runner', said he was lucky to get selected by South Africa for the Olympic Games 400m after failing to get the necessary qualifying time.

"Not making the qualification criteria of the South African Olympic Confederation (SASCOC) was pretty tough. Really I was in limbo. You never know which way it is going to go. I was very lucky . I think I was downplaying it quite a lot, because I did not want myself to be disappointed," The Sky News quoted Pistorius, as saying.

Pistorius who is current working hard in his training center in Gemona, in the foothills of the Italian Dolomites, also warned his fans that London might not see the best of him.

"I think 2016 in Rio de Janeiro will be where I will be at my pinnacle as a sprinter. Most sprinters peak between 27 and 29 and I will be 29 in Rio so hopefully I can work towards that and I am as keen and as excited as I have ever been," Pistorius said.

"Maybe after that I will start looking at throwing in the towel, but I want to end on a high. We can shake on producing better results in Rio, but hopefully there are some pinnacles of my career in London as well," he added.

Pistorius said his target for London is to make the semi-final in the 400 meters.

"I did that in Daegu in the World Championships last year, but in the semi-final there I did not post a time that I was very happy with and I finished last. I think a realistic goal and a tough goal would be for me to finish in a better position in the semi. If I can make the semi-final and run close to my personal best, I will be very happy with that," he said. (ANI)