Oscar Pistorious is perhaps the world’s most famous Paralympic athlete.  In fact, he’s one of the recognisable athletes on the planet, regardless of his disability. 

His story has been told and retold across the globe.  The little boy who had both his legs amputated at just 11 months old that grew up to become the ‘blade-runner’ – the fastest man on no legs. 

Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius was born on 22 November 1986, and now at just 21-years-old the double amputee from South Africa is a world record holder in the 100m, 200m and 400m events and runs with the aid of Cheetah Flex-Foot artificial limbs – ‘Cheetahs’ for short, aptly.

At the 2004 Paralympic Games Pistorius won a gold and bronze medal, in the 200m and 100m respectively, when he was just 17-years-old.  Three golds will be the bare minimum he expects at this year’s Games however, as he is currently the world number 1 and world record holder in all three sprint events - the 100m, 200m and 400m.

He also made a bid to compete in the Olympics in Beijing by beginning to take part in able-bodied international competitions in 2007.  However, the potency with which he can utilise his artificial limbs generated claims that he has an unfair advantage over able-bodied runners.

Subsequently, the IAAF amended its laws to ban the use of "any technical device that incorporates springs, wheels or any other element that provides a user with an advantage over another athlete not using such a device".

On 14 January 2008 he was ruled ineligible for competitions conducted under the IAAF’s rules, including the 2008 Olympics. However the decision was reversed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 16 May 2008, ruling that the IAAF had not provided sufficient evidence to prove that Pistorius himself actually gained any advantage over able-bodied runners.

In the end, however, despite being granted permission to compete, he could not make the cut for the South African team, failing to record the necessary qualifying time of 45.55 seconds, managing only 46.25.

Despite this setback, Pistorius will still be expected to shine in Beijing this month.  His story is one that can truly inspire anyone.  Having no legs would be sufficient reason to hinder most people’s athletic careers, but not his.  As In The Winning Zone found out when we met him earlier this year, overcoming your disabilities is just another step on the road for the Paralympic legend to overcome...

WZ: Oscar, at 21 you’ve already managed to overcome more adversity than many will experience in their whole life.  What advice would you pass on to people who may face obstacles in realising their dreams?

OP: I always say that everybody in their life has some kind of disability or hurdle to overcome.  But you are not just disabled by your disabilities, you are abled by the millions of other abilities you have.  That can overcome any barrier that you have. 

It comes down to the same as the principle of looking at a negative situation from a different angle and finding the positives. 

WZ: So it is about overcoming it in your mind?

OP: Yeah, if you have a mindset that is negative, you are never going to have a positive outcome.  But if you have a positive mindset, even if it’s a negative situation, the result is always going to come out more positive, because you will fight for that cause until it comes out more positively. 

At the end of the day your influence will eventually turn it around.

WZ: So you need to come out fighting?

OP: Yeah, give yourself a good kick every now and again!

RO
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