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Oscar Pistorius brings London to a standstill

10 Feb 2012 14:17 pm
  • Oscar Pistorius brings London to a standstill
    Pistorius BT filming

See photos from behind the scenes on C4 Paralympics' Facebook page


While translucent snow gently settled on London Bridge as the clock closed in on midnight on a freezing February evening, Oscar Pistorius was too busy pounding the tarmac to admire the picturesque view.


The four-time Paralympic champion returned to capital to shoot his second BT short film for Channel 4, which will hit television and internet screens in May later this year to coincide with the 100 days to go countdown until the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.


And he could not have picked a worse time to run in shorts and a vest while most Londoners shivered under several layers of clothing.


I can't believe how cold it is and soon ill be in running kit..Man o man," he tweeted just before the cameras began to roll. 


However, Oscar was a pro to the very end - he valiantly braved the freezing temperatures to film a series of jumps behind a green special effects board at Potters Fields, which will culminate in a truly spectacular finale.


Among the snippets we can divulge are Oscar jumping out of a black taxi as well as running head on into traffic along London Bridge.


All of this and more with a television crew of 20 tracking his every movement.


Since winning gold in Athens 2004, Pistorius has become the most recognisable Paralympic athlete in the world.


Nicknamed the "Blade Runner", the 25-year-old goes into the 2012 Games as hot favourite to defend his 200m and 400m Paralympic titles in London.


He set a personal best 45.07seconds in the 400m in Italy last year to qualify for the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, becoming the first athlete with a disability to do so. 

As official broadcaster of the 2012 Games, Channel 4 will be with him every step of the way delivering 150 hours of live coverage between 29 August and 9 September.


Channel 4 will also broadcast live coverage of the 2012 BT Paralympic Cup, when all of the world's best athletes will compete in Manchester just three months before the main event.


Photo courtesy of Shaun Smith at ParaSport Images






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