Peacock Fastest Man on Blades, Pistorius Fourth

(ATR) Brit Jonnie Peacock won the men’s T44 100m in front of a capacity crowd at London Olympic Stadium on Thursday.

Richard Browne of the United States finished second and South African Arnu Fourie took home bronze.

South African Oscar Pistorius, the most famous Parlympian, albeit a 400m specialist, finished fourth.

"It’s just absolutely surreal" Browne said after the race.

"I remember at 60 meters I was thinking ‘oh dear, I can win this!’ It’s going to take a long time to sink in."

Pistorious seemed to take the result in stride.

"What people were able to witness is one of the greatest performances in the 100 meters," the defending 100m Paralympicchampion said. This is the beginning of a phenomenal career for Jonnie Peacock. To be beat by an athlete like that makes me extremely happy.

"To be part of that race, even if I didn’t finish on the podium, was a blessing."

An ecstatic crowd could barely contain itself before the race with race officials demanding quiet as chants of "PEA-COCK" boomed through the stands.

Browne offered a warning shot to anyone who doubted the athletic prowess of Paralympians.

"We are just as good as athletes as anyone else and we can only get faster—best believe we’re going to get faster. If anybody doubts us, get on the track and race us. You won’t get the result you expect."

The crowd was understandably buoyant for Peacock—two British athletes won golds ahead of him.

David Weir won his third of what he hopes to be four gold in the T54 800m and Hannah Cockroft claimed the title in the T34 200m event.

Reported in London by Ed Hula III

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