The Bloody Case of Blade Runner
Life changed in an instant for someone who had been an inspiration for millions of people from around the world, Oscar Pistorius now languishes in a SA prison
The life of Oscar Pistorius has the perfect ingredients for a Bollywood masala flick. In less than a year, he managed to hit the zenith of his athletic career when he ran the opening heat of the men’s 400-meter during the London Summer Olympics. Soon after, he hit the nadir when he fatally shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp in February early next year.
Born in 1986, Pistorius had no fibula in either of his legs which were later amputated below the knees. He grew up using prosthetic legs and soon started participating in various sports activities. Running was not his plan but he started it as a form of rehabilitation exercise after a high school rugby injury. He ultimately got good at running tracks and had an exemplary record as a testimony for the same.
During the Athens Summer Paralympics in 2004, he set a world record in the 200-meter with a time of 21.97 seconds. He became the talk of the town and started participating in a lot of meets held for able-bodied athletes. He was later banned because IAFF thought that his blades were unfairly advantageous for him. The ban was lifted the same year and Pistorius won gold in the 100-, 200- and 400- meter events, and set a world record of 47.49 seconds in the 400-meter at the 2008 Summer Paralympics, held in Beijing.
He continued his toil against the able-bodied athletes and was chosen to be a part of the South African squad that went on to win a silver medal in the 4×400-meter relay at the 2011 World Championships, held in South Korea. In June 2012, he clinched a silver medal in 400-meter at the African Athletics Championships held in Benin. Pistorius was flying high following his massive string of success and was chosen to compete for his country in the individual 400-meter and 4×400 relay at the Olympics Games in London. He qualified for the 400-meter race but was eliminated in the semifinals.
Enjoying his Olympic dream run, he met Reeva in November 2012 and hit it off well. Just 3 months later, she was found dead at the runner’s home and was shot in the arm and head. To date, Oscar maintains that he thought he was shooting at some intruder through the bathroom door. After a long and tiresome trial, he was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to thirteen years in prison. He is lodged in Atteridgeville Correctional Centre in Pretoria and has been serving his time before he gets eligible for parole in 2023.
From an early age, Oscar Pistorius was an avowed adrenaline junkie who has been recklessly in love with guns and speed. He previously had a few brushes with the law and order but due to his athletic heroics, he was let go and his volatile behavior was not reported by the media. With the rising fame, his tetchiness knew no bounds with several incidents happening which corroborated to the fact that he was aggressive and bellicose.
Popularly known as The Blade Runner due to his blades, he draws a lot resemblance to another athlete, OJ Simpson who was charged with the murder of his ex-wife. Sports has always been a heady mixture of popularity mixed with the intoxication that comes with various brand endorsements and money. To keep oneself sane and in line is an achievement in itself with hordes of men faltering just before the finish line.
He was once a global inspiration for a lot of people who saw in him a guy who succeeded in life despite the odds piled against him. Everyone was surprised when it all came crashing down after the events of that one night.
