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Adam Davy/EMPICS Sport
Storming Out

Pistorius leaves BBC interview after being called an 'embarrassment'

Oscar Pistorius walked out of an interview with the BBC after it was suggested he was an ‘inconvenient embarrassment’ to South Africa.

SOUTH AFRICAN ATHLETE Oscar Pistorius stormed out of an interview with the BBC on Tuesday, claiming he had been insulted by journalist Rob Bonnet.

Pistorius – nicknamed ‘Blade Runner’ on account of the artificial legs he uses to compete – took offence to the suggestion that he was an ‘inconvenient embarrassment’ to his country’s sporting authorities.

The first Paralympian to win an able-bodied World Championship medal, Pistorius was part of South Africa’s 4x400m relay team. However, he was surprisingly dropped from the final and left ‘gutted’.

Pistorius still received a silver medal for running in the earlier rounds but was not one of the runners on the podium.

“Some people regard you, no doubt, as an inspiration to Paralympic athletes, no question about that,” BBC Radio 4 reporter Bonnet stated.

“But it might also be said that you’re an inconvenient embarrassment to the South African authorities and the IAAF because, effectively, you’re taking them into uncharted ethical waters here. What’s your reaction to that?”

A clearly vexed Pistorius responded: “I think that’s an insult to me and I think this interview is over.”

Audio – Pistorius leaves interview (Telegraph) >

Read more about this story at thefirstpost.co.uk >

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