Ossur Salutes Oscar Pistorius in Historic Achievement

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND--(Korea Newswire)--Global medical device innovator Össur congratulates Oscar Pistorius for posting a personal best time of 45.07 sec. in the 400m, making him the first amputee sprinter in history eligible to compete in the International Assn. of Athletics Federations (IAAF)'s World Championships in Daegu, South Korea next month, and bringing him one step closer to realizing his dream of competing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

A decorated Paralympic champion and Team Össur member, Pistorius won the 400m event at the 19th Annual Meeting Internazionale di Atletica Sports Solidarity Meeting in Lignano, Italy on July 19. His posted time at the able-bodied competition ranks him as 15th fastest in the world, tied with Jermaine Gonzales of Jamaica. It also represents the first time Pistorius achieved the “A” qualification time required for eligibility on South Africa's 2012 Olympic team.

“We salute Oscar Pistorius on his historic achievement. As both an athlete and role model, he has continually inspired us by personifying how to live life without limitations,” said Jon Sigurdsson, Össur president and CEO.

About The Blade Runner's Blades

Often referred to as “blades,” Pistorius wears Össur's Flex-Foot Cheetah® running feet -- J-shaped, high-performance carbon composite prostheses that have led to his nickname as The Blade Runner. Considered the “gold standard” for elite amputee athletes, the Cheetah is a prosthetic foot with a unique design intended to mimic the reaction and functionality of an anatomical foot and ankle joint.

The prosthesis can be used by unilateral or bilateral(single or double) transtibial and transfemoral (above-knee and below-knee) amputees who wish to sprint on competitive or recreational levels. Additional details about Össur and its Flex-Foot Cheetah are available at http://www.ossur.com/?PageID=14509.

About Össur

Össur (NASDAQ/OMX: OSSR) is a global leader in non-invasive orthopaedics that help people live a life without limitations. Its business is focused on improving people‘s mobility through the delivery of innovative technologies within the fields of braces, supports, prosthetic limbs and compression therapy. A recognized “Technology Pioneer,” Össur invests significantly in research and product development; its award-winning designs ensuring a consistently strong position in the market. Successful patient and clinical outcomes are further empowered via Össur’s educational programs and business solutions. Headquartered in Iceland, Össur has major operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia, with additional distributors worldwide. www.ossur.com

Website: http://www.ossur.com

This is a news release distributed by Korea Newswire on behalf of this company.