Oscar Pistorius becomes first double amputee to compete in Olympics

Today is the ninth day of the London 2012 Olympic Games. RFI's Paul Myers is there and here are his observations of the day's events.

South Africa's Oscar Pistorius competes during round 1 of the men's 400m heats, 4 August, 2012 Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach

• The organisers got lucky. Day 9 was billed as ‘Super Saturday’ and it really was a super Saturday for the British competitors. The hosts collected golds all over the shop. In the Velodrome: the cycling women’s team sprint; on the rowing lake at Eton Dorney: the women’s lightweight double sculls and the men’s four and in the Olympic Stadium, the men’s 10,000 metres, the men’s long jump and the women’s heptathlon.

• We’ll have to get used to an Olympic Games without Michael Phelps. He’s off to the recreational swimming pool. Since Athens 2004 there have been 18 golds, two silver and two bronze medals. He’s set a cluster of world records in that time too. Happy paddling Michael.

• The Olympic movement is advancing. Oscar Pistorius became the first amputee to compete at the main Games when he took part in a 400m heat. The 25-year-old had his legs removed below the knees when he was a bairn but he's fought that setback and he -with his specially adapted blades - came second.

• The Games have been a perfect splash for Ranomi Kromowidjojo from the Netherlands. She added the 50m freestyle to her 100m freestyle crown. The double means she emulates Inge de Bruijn who both events at the 200 Olympics in Sydney

• There must be something in the food in Jamaica. Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce retained her 100m title and Veronica Campbell-Brown came third. Usain Bolt is in with a good chance of defending his crown and if he doesn’t, his Jamaican training partner Yohan Blake is tipped to succeed him. Anyone for rice and peas and curry goat?