Oliveira brings the best out of me states Leeper

“I’m going to go out there and give my all. I know Alan is the London 2012 Paralympic champion. He beat Pistorius and ran an amazing time that was not even expected. I know he’s going to bring it but that gives me more reason to raise the bar."

American Blake Leeper believes racing against Brazil’s Paralympic champion Alan Fonteles Oliveira in Sunday’s (21 July) 200m T43 final at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France will bring out the best in him.

The two will go head-to-head in tonight’s final at 18:41 CET, in a final that will be streamed live via www.ParalympicSport.TV, and 23 year old Leeper is optimistic of his chances against the world’s fastest leg amputee.

“I’m going to do great,” said Leeper who won 200m T43/44 bronze in London, a race won by his Brazilian rival.

“I’m going to go out there and give my all. I know Alan is the London 2012 Paralympic champion. He beat Pistorius and ran an amazing time that was not even expected. I know he’s going to bring it but that gives me more reason to raise the bar.

“I love the fact he’s getting so much faster and raising the bar as that pushes me on the practice track when I’m working out.

“When it comes to the starting blocks it’s a straight final and we’ve got 200m. He has his blades, I have my blades. I’m going to go out there and run as hard as I can.”

Oliveira arrives in Lyon in superb form having broken the 100m T43 world record last month at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Berlin, Germany. Such is his speed, Leeper says he would not be surprised if Sunday’s final sees Oscar Pistrorius’s 200m T43 world record from

London 2012 wiped from the history books.

“Anything is possible I’m telling you. We’re both competitive, we’re going to bring the best out of each other I guarantee you that. I mean the crowd should watch out and be prepared as I’m a true believer that an anything is possible between me and Alan.”

A total of 16 medal events will be contested on Sunday evening. Other 200m highlights will include Ireland’s Jason Smyth going in the T13 final and Jarryd Wallace, who broke the world record in Saturday’s heats, going in the T44 final. He will face stiff competition from teammates David Prince and Jeorme Singleton, as well as South Africa’s Arnu Foruie.

The 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships, featuring over 1,000 athletes from nearly 100 countries, runs through until Sunday 28 July. It is the biggest gathering of international athletes since London 2012 and is being streamed each day live via www.ParalympicSport.TV.

Live results can be found at the Lyon 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships website whilst updates and behind the scenes pictures can be found at twitter.com/IPCAthletics and facebook.com/IPCAthletics.

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Caption

Blake Leeper of the United States lines up on the starting blocks prior to the Men's 400m T44 heats at the London Paralympics