Did Oscar Pistorius Ever Win an Olympic Medal? – Tragic Journey, Case Update, and More Discussed

South African runner Oscar Pistorius continues to divide opinions all over the world. The “Blade Runner” was placed on house arrest after he shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp who died on Valentine’s Day 2013. Initially Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide. The court however overturned that charge for a more serious one in 2015.

Oscar Pistorius was then convicted of murder following a successful appeal by prosecutors. He then received a jail sentence of 13 years and five months. After having served a little over half that time, Pistorius was eligible for parole. That will come into effect on Jan 5, 2024. Pistorius will serve out the remainder of his service at his Uncle Arno Pistorius’ property in Pretoria in accordance with the conditions set by the board.

The painful beginning of the story of Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius was born without both fibulae. He was also missing the outside of both feet due to a congenital birth defect. That led to a double amputation below the knees when only 11 months old. Half a year later, he learned to walk on fiberglass pegs. Both his parents encouraged him to play sports, with water polo and rugby catching his eye. An injury suffered at the latter led to track training. After that, there was no looking back.

Oscar Pistorius won multiple medals at the Paralympics in Athens in 2004, and Beijing in 2008. In the latter, he secured three gold medals and set a record along the way in his class. He also became the first amputee to participate in an Olympic track event at the 2012 London Games. He was eliminated at the semi-finals of the 400m. That latter achievement came after a number of tests.

The Blade Runner fought to compete with able-bodied athletes

Oscar Pistorius was initially banned by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) in 2008 from able-bodied competition. He had competed against able-bodied runners in 2007, where he improved upon his personal time in the 400m race. The argument was that his prosthetic carbon fiber legs gave him an unfair advantage over other runners. That remains a question not fully answered to this day.

Read More – South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius files papers to appeal his murder conviction

Oscar Pistorius will be required to wear an electronic tag at all times while out on parole. Moreover, he cannot make any money giving interviews about his time behind bars. South Africa’s National Department of Correctional Services determined Pistorius was a first-time offender with a positive support system. It remains to be seen if he recovers following that fall from grace.

Watch This Story – Witness: Moments When Russian Athletes are Banned by the IOC for Breaching the Rules as Paris Prepares for Another One in 2024