The Life and Trials of Oscar Pistorius 123Movies: Oscar Pistorius is known as one of the most inspiring and controversial sports personalities in South Africa. His achievements in this noble sport have been nothing short of phenomenal. He is today, considered to be the greatest Paralympic sprinter of all time. He holds both Paralympic and Olympic records for 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 4×400 relay events. Pistorius was born on 21st June 1989 in South Africa. He was born without fibular lengthening osteoplastic dwarfism which led to his disability from birth. The condition had resulted in him having a below-knee amputation when he was 11 months old. Pistorius’s disability often kept him away from social activities with his friends but that didn’t stop him from pursuing his dream to become a champion athlete like any other normal kid would have done so too!
How did Oscar Pistorius become a Paralympic champion?
Oscar Pistorius was born on 21st June 1989 in Pretoria, South Africa. He was born without fibular lengthening osteoplastic dwarfism which led to his disability from birth. The condition had resulted in him having a below-knee amputation when he was 11 months old. Pistorius’s disability often kept him away from social activities with his friends but that didn’t stop him from pursuing his dream to become a champion athlete like any other normal kid would have done so too! Pistorius’s mother, Sheila, would often tell him about her own experience of being a disabled child. This would influence Pistorius and help him deal with the reality and challenges he faced. Pistorius’s father, Henke, believed in his son and supported him all the way. Pistorius says he has been very close to his parents and they were there to support him throughout his entire career.
Pistorius’s Rise to Fame:
Oscar Pistorius began to take swimming lessons when he was 7 years old. In 2004, at the Transvaal Provincial Swimming Championships, Pistorius participated in the 200m butterfly event. In that same year, he was also a member of South Africa’s U-20 national swimming team. In 2005, Pistorius participated in the Paralympic tournament. He finished 11th in the 100m butterfly S8 event and 6th in the 100m backstrokes S8 event. In 2006, he participated in the Paralympic tournament in Athens and won a gold medal in the 400m freestyle S7 event and a bronze medal in the 100m butterfly S8 event. In 2007, Pistorius participated in the Paralympic tournament in Beijing, China. He won a gold medal in the 400m freestyle S7 event and a silver medal in the 400m medley SM8 event. In 2008, Pistorius participated in the Paralympic tournament again. He won a silver medal in the 400m freestyle S7 event and a bronze medal in the 200m backstrokes S7 event. In 2009, Pistorius participated in the World Championships in The Netherlands. He won a gold medal in the 400m medleys SM8 event and a silver medal in the 200m backstrokes S7 event. In 2010, Pistorius participated in the World Championships in South Africa. He finished 4th in the 400m freestyle S7 event. In 2011, Pistorius participated in the World Championships in South Africa. He won a silver medal in the 400m medleys SM8 event and a bronze medal in the 200m backstrokes S7 event. In 2012, Pistorius participated in the World Championships in London, United Kingdom. He won a gold medal in the 400m medley SM8 event and a silver medal in the 100m freestyle S7 event. In 2013, Pistorius participated in the World Championships in Brazil. He won a gold medal in the 200m backstrokes S7 event and a silver medal in the 400m medley SM8 event. In 2014, Pistorius participated in the World Championships in Doha, Qatar. He finished 2nd in the 200m backstrokes S7 event and a bronze medal in the 400m medley SM8 event.
The Trial and its Aftermath:
In May 2014, Pistorius was charged with murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. During the trial, Pistorius stood by his claim that he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder. The prosecution argued that Pistorius shot Steenkamp accidentally through a locked toilet door. In November 2014, the court ruled that Pistorius was not guilty of murdering Steenkamp. However, he was convicted of discharging a firearm in a public place. In July 2016, the court sentenced him to five years in prison. Pistorius was released from prison on parole on 9th November 2017. Pistorius’s trial and its aftermath played a major role in shaping his life and career. It was during the trial that Pistorius’s disability became known to the general public. While the trial was going on, Pistorius often made references to the trial in his interviews and on social media. The trial also helped him to gain fame and recognition in the eyes of his fans.
Pistorius’s Struggles to Become a Champion Athlete Again:
After the trial, Pistorius’s career as a champion athlete came to a standstill. He says that there were times when he was unable to run at all because of the injuries he sustained from competing in the Paralympics. The injuries he incurred from the time he was a champion athlete to when he was banned for the crime of killing Reeva Steenkamp, included: sprained ligament in his left knee, sprained ankle, injured Achilles tendon in his left foot, and wrist injury. However, Pistorius was able to overcome all these injuries and come back to be a champion athlete again. Pistorius participated in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 4x400m races in the 2016 Olympic games. He also participated in the 2016 Paralympic games. In Rio, Pistorius won a gold medal in the 400m freestyle S7 event and a silver medal in the 200m backstrokes S7 event.
Personal Life of Oscar Pistorius:
Pistorius is an inspirational figure in South African society because of his disability. He has a close relationship with his parents and siblings. He is also known to be very respectful towards others. Pistorius is quite popular on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter. He has more than three million followers on Instagram and more than three million followers on Twitter. In November 2017, Pistorius was arrested for driving without a license. He was released on bail after spending 2 days in the police station. Pistorius often posts photos and videos of himself with his car, which is quite common among wealthy young people in South Africa.
Conclusion
Oscar Pistorius has been named one of the most inspiring and controversial sports personalities in South Africa. His achievements in this noble sport have been nothing short of phenomenal. He is today, considered to be the greatest Paralympic sprinter of all time. He holds both Paralympic and Olympic records for 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 4×400 relay events. Pistorius’s disability often kept him away from social activities with his friends but that didn’t stop him from pursuing his dream to become a champion athlete like any normal kid would have done so too! Pistorius is known to be one of the most inspirational athletes in South Africa.