PAULA RADCLIFFE is to see a specialist about the recurrence of a foot problem – but is confident she will race at London 2012.

The injury that forced the 38-year-old to miss the 2008 London Marathon has struck again and she has been receiving treatment to manage the condition.

Since 2006 her career has been blighted by back, hip, toe and bunion problems, and the latest setback will raise concerns over how much longer she can continue competing.

But Radcliffe, speaking at the launch of Nike and O2's new app, Priority Sports, expects to be running in the Olympic marathon on August 5.

"Preparations for the Games have gone really well and I was really pleased until the last 10 days or so," the women's marathon world record holder said. "The joint in my foot that can give me trouble has been giving me a bit of a problem.

"I'm getting advice so that I won't be training in pain between now and then, but hopefully everything should be all right

"I don't think my participation at the Games is under threat at this stage. It's just a case of managing it. I can run on it, it just hurts."

lOscar Pistorius will become the first amputee sprinter to compete in the Olympics after being selected for South Africa's individual and relay 400 metres.

Double amputee Pistorius, known as the 'Blade Runner' due to the prosthetic carbon fibre limbs he uses, thought his chances of appearing solo in the Games ended when he finished 0.22seconds short of the Olympic 'A' standard in the Africa Championships.

But the 25-year-old's fortunes took a dramatic turn for the better yesterday when he was first named in his country's 4x400m team and was later promoted to the individual race.

Pistorius, who will also defend his T44 titles in the 100m, 200m and 400m at the Paralympics, received the news when the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee announced the final 13 names in a squad of 125.