BEIJING -- It's physical function that set the participants in the Paralympics apart from their counterparts at the Olympics. But that doesn't mean disabled people cannot match the achievement of able-bodied Olympic stars.

Erin Popovich of the US celebrates winning the women's 100m breaststroke SB7 finals during the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games September 9, 2008. [Agencies]

US swimmer Erin Popovich, who stands 1.34 meters tall, snared her third gold medal of the Beijing Paralympics Tuesday evening with a world-record time of 1:31.60 in the women's SB7 100m breaststroke.

The 23-year-old is often referred to as "the Paralympic Michael Phelps", but it seems more accurate to pin a nickname on Phelps: "the Olympic Popovich."

In the Athens Olympics in 2004, Phelps came up one short of matching Mark Spitz's 1972 gold medal haul, while Popovich went 7-for-7 in five individual events and two relays in the ensuing Paralympics.

"The best thing about the Paralympic Games is that stereotypes are dispelled," said Popovich. "You see someone in a wheelchair or with a certain disability and instead of dwelling on their problems, you see they are focused on what they can achieve. I'm blown away by their abilities."

Popovich is not an exception at the Paralympics. More than 4,000 disabled athletes from around the world competing here want to be recognized - win or lose - for their sporting achievements.

South African sensation Oscar Pistorius started his quest for three gold medals on a winning note as the double amputee, using a pair of carbon-fiber prosthetic legs, overcame a slow start to win the men's TT44 100m sprint in 11.17 seconds Tuesday night at the Bird's Nest stadium.

Oscar Pistorius (C) of South Africa waves as he celebrates winning gold in the final of the 100m T44 during the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games at the National Stadium in the Chinese capital on September 9, 2008. [Agencies]

Pistorius was born without his fibula, the smaller of the two bones in the lower legs, and when he was 11 months old both limbs were amputated below the knee.

The 21-year-old had sought to compete in last month's Beijing Olympics but eventually failed to reach the qualifying standard.

Pistorius said had it not been for the legal case with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) - which ruled the J-shaped blades gave him an advantage over able-bodied athletes -- he might have qualified for the Olympics.

However, Pistorius insisted that in no way he considered topping the Paralympic podium a consolation prize for missing out on the Olympics.

"I never think that the Paralympics is a second class event," he said.

"Coming to the Paralympics, the competition is always strong and it's a world class event. It's on the same stage as the Olympics and it's something I'm very proud to be a part of."

Pistorius' comptriot Natalie du Toit, who led the South African Paralympic delegation at the opening ceremony last Sturday night, is, by no means, inferior to Olympians.

South Africa's Natalie Du Toit shows her gold medal after winning the women's 100m freestyle S9 finals at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games September 8, 2008. [Agencies]

The first female amputee to compete in an able-bodied Olympics, du Toit finished 16th among 25 competitors in the 10-kilometer open-water swim last month at the Beijing Games, which disappointed her but was a marvelous achievement to anyone else.

"She's not just an inspiration to open-water swimmers and not just to sportsmen," British silver medalist Keri-Anne Payne said after the race, "but to anybody in the whole world that you can do anything you want."

Du Toit, who lost her lower left leg in a motorcycle accident in 2001,  won five golds and a silver in the Athens Paralympics. Again, she will try for five golds in Beijing.

"It's not about being disabled or able-bodied -- it's all the same to me," she said. "I just get up and I race."