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South African runner competes in 400-metre heats

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The Olympic dream of South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius became a reality on Saturday when he ran in a round 1 heat in the Men’s 400 metres at the Olympic Stadium in London.DAVID GRAY/Reuters

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A double amputee and decorated Paralympian, Pistorius had to beat an IAAF ban and win a court battle to get approval to compete on his carbon-fiber blades.KAI PFAFFENBACH/Reuters

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Pistorius was selected to compete in the 4x400 relay for South Africa, which allowed him to enter individual competition.DYLAN MARTINEZ/Reuters

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After smiling and waving to the crowd Saturday ahead of his heat, Pistorius got down to business.David J. Phillip/The Associated Press

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Pistorius, nicknamed the “Blade Runner,” became the first amputee to compete on an Olympic track.PHIL NOBLE/Reuters

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Pistorius runs against Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald in their Round 1 heat Saturday.David J. Phillip/The Associated Press

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An overhead photo shows, from right, Dominican Republic’s Luguelin Santos, South Africa’s Pistorius, Russia’s Maksim Dyldin and Jamaica’s McDonald competing in their heat.Mark Ducnan/The Associated Press

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Pistorius was trying to join a field of 24 men in the next round of the competition.Daniel Ochoa De Olza/The Associated Press

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Pistorius, 25, qualified for the event’s semi-final, to be held Sunday.Anja Niedringhaus/The Associated Press

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Pistorius ran a season-best time of 45.44 and finished second in the heat behind Santos.LUCY NICHOLSON/Reuters

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Pistorius shakes hands with Santos after their heat.LUCY NICHOLSON/Reuters

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Pistorius walks off the track with his fellow athletes after the race.David J. Phillip/The Associated Press

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Pistorius gives the thumbs-up sign after qualifying for the semi-finals in the Men’s 400-metre race.DYLAN MARTINEZ/Reuters

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