JOHANNESBURG, South Africa _ Olympic hopefuls Natalie du Toit and Oscar Pistorius will head South Africa's lineup for this year's Paralympics.
Du Toit, whose lower left leg was amputated after a road accident, has already qualified to compete in Beijing against able bodied swimmers in the 10-kilometer open water event, which is swimming's equivalent of the marathon and makes its debut in Beijing.
Pistorius, a double-amputee runner, won a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport last month saying he could compete in able bodied events after the IAAF said his carbon fiber prosthetics gave him an unfair advantage. To run in Beijing, he has to reach the Olympic 400-meter qualifying time or be picked for South Africa's 1,600-meter relay team.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee on Wednesday announced a 60-strong group for the Paralympics to represent the country in athletics, aquatics, cycling, equestrian, powerlifting, rowing, table tennis, tennis and wheelchair basketball.
This year's Paralympics will be held in Beijing between September 6-17.
