Oscar Pistorius beats horse – but was it a fair race?
Baku, December 13 (AZERTAC). South African Paralympic and Olympic star Oscar Pistorius has beaten an Arabian horse in a ‘Run like the Wind’ challenge, as part of the ‘Definitely Able’ campaign to highlight the positive contribution of people with disabilities have made to local communities.
The race took place at the Aspire Zone outside circuit in Doha, Qatar on Wednesday evening.
The 400m runner was in Doha for the ‘Definitely Able’ campaign which uses events such as this ‘Run like the Wind’ challenge to focus on the exceptional achievements Paralympic athletes are capable of.
Questions have been raised as to whether it was really a fair race, as Pistorius was given a 15m head start and the horse was visibly restrained by his rider. The South African SPCA was also outraged at the treatment of the horse, which it says was “unnecessarily and cruelly whipped from start to finish.” Pistorius responded to the complaint, “I participated in the race in good faith as it was to promote abilities across sport and I was totally unaware of any alleged excessive force being used on the horse. I don’t condone any ill-treatment of animals. Those who know me are aware of my well-publicised love of animals.”
Previous athletes to run against horses include the Welsh sprinter Jamie Baulch and American Jesse Owens. South African rugby player Bryan Habana also ran against a cheetah.
Pistorius also said in Doha that he will run for five more years and then change tack to help raise awareness about landmine victims across the world.
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