( CNN ) -- Double-amputee athlete Oscar Pistorius was selected Monday in the South African team for the world championships in Daegu later this month . Pistorius will run in the individual 400m and is part of the 4x400m relay for the biennial competition in South Korea from August 27-September 4 . Pistorius , nicknamed 'The Blade Runner ' , will be competing in a global championships , fulfilling a lifelong ambition . `` I have dreamt for such a long time of competing in a major championship and this is a very proud moment in my life , '' he said in a statement . The 24-year-old Pistorius was cleared to compete against able-bodied athletes three years ago , but in the past has failed to reach the qualifying times for the Olympics and major championships . But all that changed with a 45.07 second clocking for 400m in Italy last month . `` The IAAF is a world-class governing body for our sport and I am grateful to have the chance to run in their events . It will be a great day for me when I set out on the track in Daegu and hope to do my country proud , '' he added . The four-time Paralympic gold medallist had both legs amputated below the knee for medical reasons when he was 11 months old , but it has not prevented him competing in a number of sports , including athletics . Reigning world 800m champion Caster Semenya will get the chance to defend her title after also being named in the South African squad . Semenya became embroiled in a major row over her gender after winning the title in Berlin in 2009 but has returned to the circuit this season with mixed success .
Oscar Pistorius picked in South African team for world athletics championships . `` Blade Runner '' Pistorius achieved 400m qualifying time last month . It will be the first time he has competed against able-bodied athletes in global competition . Caster Semenya will defend her 800m world title after gender row .