Academy athlete meets controversial track star known as ‘Blade Runner’

Jun 30 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

YOUNG Perth athlete Louise Brett came face to face with “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius during the South African’s visit to Scotland.

The Perth Academy pupil had been selected along with three other athletes with a disability by Scottish Athletics to attend a question and answer session with the controversial 22-year-old Paralympian, who is a double leg amputee, at Pitreavie in Fife.

Louise, who has cerebral palsy, was given this honour after enjoying a successful year in athletics competing as a member of Perth Strathtay Harriers.

Since February 2008, Louise has entered five cross-country events, winning three gold medals. She also took part in the Tayside Track and Field Championships for people with a disability in Dundee in May, and won a silver medal.

At the Scottish Disability Sport Open Junior Athletics Championships early last month she won two gold medals, and most recently came away with an impressive haul of five golds – 60m, 100m, 200m, softball and standing long jump events – at the Red Star AC Open Athletic Championships in Glasgow.

Louise also takes part in the Race for Life and was instrumental in starting a lunchtime boccia session at Perth’s Fairview School, which she is delivering in partnership with Active Schools.

She hopes to undertake the Boccia Leader Award next year.