Pistorius – one of the most recognisable Paralympians in the world – has previously sparked worldwide controversy in his attempts to compete against able-bodied athletes because of intense debate regarding whether his carbon-fibre legs give him an unfair advantage over them or not.

In January 2008, following testing on Pistorius’ artificial limbs from German professor Gert-Peter Brüggemann,  the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruled that prostheses ineligible for use in able-bodied competition conducted under IAAF rules, including the Olympic Games, as they were allegedly found to use 25 per cent less energy than able-bodied runners to run at the same speed

But after Pistorius subsequently appealed against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the IAAF ban was overturned on in May 2008 clearing the way for Pistorius to try and qualify for the Olympics.

Pistorius missed out on qualifying for the 400 metres at the Beijing 2008 Olympics Games by just a quarter of a second however, he did go on to claim three gold medals at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics.

And the “Blade Runner” - who is still only 22-years-old - stated that qualification for the 400 metres at the London 2012 Olympics remains very much a realistic target for him.

Pistorius said: "We are working really hard towards it [the London 2012 Olympic Games].

"I would really like to be there and if things go the way that they are going right now, I think I have got a good chance of definitely being there.

"To be at the Olympics would be something that I would really hope and dream for."

Should he qualify, Pistorius would become the first leg amputee runner to compete on the track at Olympic Games.

The South African though, admitted that regardless of whether or not he qualifies for the Olympic Games; he will never relinquish the opportunity to compete at the Paralympics.

He said: "People ask me that if I make it to the Olympics one day, will I still run in the Paralympics and my answer is always yes because I think that the competition is just as nerve-wrecking and exciting at the Paralympics as it is at the Olympics.

"Also, the camaraderie between the athletes and the passion and dedication to training from the athletes who compete in the Paralympics is second to none.

"I have been very lucky to been involved in the Paralympic Movement and Disability Sport Movement for the last five years but before that, I never participated in disability sport and I really wish I had got involved when I was a lot younger.

"I really feel like I missed out on quite a bit."

Pistorius – amputated on below the knee on both legs at 11 months old due to a physical impairment at birth - says that while others might consider him disabled, he does not consider himself disabled.

He said: "I know conventionally I’d be classified as having a disability but a disability is something that keeps you back and I’ve never felt like I’ve had that so I’m very lucky in that respect.

"I believe that you’re not disabled by the disabilities you have but that you are able by the abilities you have.

"Everybody has disabilities whether they are physical, mental or simply barriers in life that people find difficult to overcome.

"But we all have far more abilities than disabilities.

"At the end of the day, I don’t see myself as an able-bodied athlete or disabled athlete, I just see myself as an athlete and that is what is important."

Pistorius also revealed that he finds it difficult to empathise with those who feel sorry for themselves when things go wrong in their lives.

He said: "I don’t really understand self-pity and don’t really know what to say to people who are self-pitying as I have never felt that.

"Not having legs has given me great perseverance and determination and has made me into the person I am today."

And while it may be the case that there are now prosthetic limbs available that allow an unfair advantage to athletes with a disability, Pistorius says that carefully monitored rules will allow athletes such as himself to compete with able-bodied athletes on a level playing field.

He said: "There are already limbs out there that can give you a huge advantage [over able-bodied athletes].

"We’ve already got battery-powered prosthetics that work hydraulics and the advances in technology are great for moving things forward for amputees in general but in sport, we have got to draw a clear line where certain prosthetics can’t be used while certain prosthetics can and I think that’s definitely the way to go."

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