South African Paralympic athletics star Oscar Pistorius is seeking help from the world's top 400m coach, Clyde Hart, in his efforts to participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

"There are no more major challenges as Paralympic athlete for Oscar," his new manager, Lizl Schutte, said on Thursday.

"He would like to see now how well he can do against normal athletes. But if he does not qualify for the 2008 Olympics he certainly won't give up."

Pistorius plans to start chasing the Olympic qualifying time in March next year. Then, in June, he wants to go to the Baylor University in Texas, where Hart works. Contact has already been made with the famous coach.

Hart came renowned as coach of Michael Johnson, holder of the world record in the 200m (19.32s) and 400m (43.18). Johnson won both these events at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Hart was the university's chief coach for 42 years before being promoted to director of coaching last year.

Despite his new responsibilities, Hart still coaches 400m athletes, among whom the world's top runners in this event, Jeremy Wariner and Sanya Richards

Wariner, 22, is already the Olympic and world champion and has clocked a best time of 43.62s this year. The 21-year-old Richards is the fastest woman over 400m this year, having run a 48.70.

Pistorius, who has just finished school, ran a 47.34 at the SA championships in Durban last year. Now he wants to go faster to keep alive his dream of participating at the Olympics.

He may have to set a time of 45.55s to ensure he is selected for the SA team to go to Beijing. The B standard is 45.95.

"Oscar would like to establish himself as one of the four fastest South Africans in the 400," Schutte said. But even that represents a major challenge.

Paul Gorries won the SA title in 45.93 this year, followed by Jan van der Merwe (46.25), Ruben Majola (46.62), Nathan van Wyk (47.02) and Ofentse Mogawane (47.06). Mogawane ran a 45.42 last year.

Pistorius won the 200 at the Athens Paralympic Games in 2004 after he had taken a fall. Now he wants to visit Hart in Texas so that he and his coach, Ampie Louw, can learn what they need to know to take him to faster times and greater heights.