Oscar Pistorius is a man with heart, courage and determination. Nicknamed the ‘bladerunner’ and the fastest man with no legs, Oscar is an extraordinary character. Where most of us would see adversity he sees opportunity. Where most people see disability he sees ability.
Oscar was born without fibulas and had both legs amputated below the knees when he was 11 months old. He only started running competitively four years ago but his hunger has seen him push the limits as to what disabled athletes can achieve. He won the 200m at the Athens games and currently holds the world records for 100m, 200m and 400m in Paralympics events.
Oscar received a dreadful setback in January, being banned by the IAAF from competing with able bodied athletes due to possessing an unfair advantage. However on May 16th the Court of Arbitration for Sport decided to allow Oscar to compete in the Olympic trials. Should he win a place on the South African national team he will be competing at the Olympics against able bodied athletes.
The debate centred on whether or not his Cheetah Flex-Foot carbon fibre transtibial artificial limbs gave him any sort of advantage over able-bodied athletes. Oscar has been competing against disabled athletes with similar prosthetic limbs to his own. His times posted are on a par with able-bodied athletes and this facilitated the debate of whether he has an advantage over able bodied athletes or should be allowed to compete.
It is pleasing to see that the decision has been made in Oscar’s favour. After years battling with his own disability and training to reach the top of his profession; he is being given the opportunity to be placed on a par with any athlete in the world. He is an inspiration to disabled athletes; he gives them hope that disabled athletes can compete on the world stage against any human being, whether able or disabled.