Meet Team BP USA: Jerome Singleton, 'World's Fastest Amputee'

"I call it the pursuit of speed," Singleton said. "I just want to get as fast as possible."

That was Jerome Singleton Jr. in March of this year. And he's done just that.

At the 2011 International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championships, Singleton took the gold medal in the 100 meters (T43/44 division: single below knee amputation or equivalent impairment/double below knee amputations or equivalent) and silver in the 200m (T43/44) and 4x100m relay (T42-46). In winning the 100m, he beat South Africa's Oscar Pistorious, the "Blade Runner" himself, and the defending world champion in the event.

That's why when Jerome Singleton heads to London for the 2012 Paralympic Games, he'll be running to defend his title of "World's Fastest Amputee."

Singleton was born in Greenwood, S.C. with a birth defect in his right leg, forcing doctors to amputate below the knee. Despite this, he went on to become one of the top high school football prospects in the state -- no small feat in South Carolina.

From there, Singleton went to Morehouse College, where he double majored in Mathematics and Applied Physics, before transferring to Michigan. He not only completed his dual degree from Morehouse, but added an Engineering degree as well.

His professional career began as a researcher at NASA and CERN -- seriously -- before he ever made his first national team in 2007. It was then that he competed in the Parapan American Games, winning silver in the 200m (T44) and a bronze medal in the 100m (T44).

At the 2012 Paralympic Gams (Aug. 29-Sept. 9), Singleton will compete in both the 100m and 200m again, and will also be a member of Team USA in the 4x100m relay.

For more on Jerome Singleton Jr., visit the official site of BP Team USA.