Blake Leeper actually is aspiring to be like Oscar Pistorius. On the track, of course.
The 25-year-old Tennessee native wants to compete in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, multiple media outlets report.
Like Pistorius, Leeper had his legs amputated at an early age. According to Huffington Post, Leeper has been using prosthetics since he was 12 months old. It added that Leeper is eyeing a spot in the 100 meters.
He currently runs the event in 10.91 seconds and wants to be the fastest person in the world.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel feels sorry for Oscar Pistorius, according to Pistorius acquaintance
"Instead of asking, 'Why me?' I flipped it," he said to Huffington Post. "I asked myself, "Well, why not me?" I'm meant for this. 'Why not me?' I'm strong enough for this."
Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Leeper also could vie in the 400 meters. He is training in San Diego with Al Joyner, the 1984 gold medalist in the triple jump, as his coach.
The Review-Journal added that Leeper currently runs a 49.3-second 400 meters. He would have to run a 46.5-second 400 to qualify for the Olympics.
The newspaper said that Leeper met, and was friends with, Pistorius when Leeper "was first starting out, before the kid with the megawatt smile started threatening Oscar's records."
Leeper won a silver medal and a bronze medal at the 2012 Paralympics, finishing second to Pistorius in the 400 meters.
He told the Review-Journal, however, that he has been able to increase his speed quickly while running on blades.
"In under three years, he went from never having run on them to challenging Oscar Pistorius' world records, so he says 2.8 seconds is doable," the Review-Journal reported.
The American Paralympian has 16 months to do it.
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