MILAN, July 3: Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius slowed on the final straight Wednesday in his first able-bodied race in nearly a year, finishing fourth and well outside the Olympic qualifying time. The South African finished with a time of 47.78 seconds in the 400 metre B race at the Milan Notturna meet. The time he needs to qualify for the Olympics is 45.55.

“I’m disappointed with my time,” Pistorius said. “I’ve only had a month-and-a-half to train, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad. I let myself down. I’ve got to be realistic. I’m chasing something that may be unattainable. It’s starting to look impossible.”

His lifetime best is 46.36. Pistorius only resumed training six weeks ago when a sports arbitration court ruled that he was eligible to run in Beijing.

Pistorius led at the final turn, but faded in the last 100 metres. His next qualifying attempt will come at the Golden Gala meet in Rome next week (July 11).

His most realistic shot to compete in the August Beijing Games could be as part of South Africa’s four-man relay, for which six team members are chosen. Pistorius’s manager Peet van Zyl said he might be able to qualify for that with a time of 46.1 or 46.2.

“It’s the first time I’ve raced at this level in nearly a year,” Pistorius said. “Just being on the track tonight was a gift and a blessing.”