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Oscar Pistorius is born November 22, 1986 to parents Henk and Sheila Pistorius. He is born without a fibula in either leg.
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Oscar's parents make the difficult decision to amputate both legs below the knee, and the child is fitted with prosthetic limbs. Within six months, Oscar is walking.
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Pistorius was the middle child of three born to an upper middle class family. His parents divorced when he was six years old, and he has never enjoyed a close relationship with his father.
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Sheila Pistorius died in March, 2002 from an allergic reaction to medication following a hysterectomy when Oscar was 15. Pistorius was very close to his mother and later had her birthdate and death dates tattooed on the inside of his arm.
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Oscar was active in several school sports, including wrestling, water polo and rugby, but did not begin running seriously until sometime in 2002 while he was recuperating from a rugby injury.
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Before 2004, Pistorius had never competed against other amputees--he had always competed in sports against able-bodied athletes. In Athens, Pistorius burst onto the world stage by winning a gold medal in the 200 meters and adding a bronze in the 100 meters.
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Oscar competes against the best able-bodied runners in South Africa and finishes sixth in the 400 meters. Later in 2005, he adds two golds (100 and 200 meters) in the Paralympics World Championships. (Photo courtesy of the BBC.)
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Oscar begins a course of study at the University of Pretoria but his time is limited by his training schedule. He has yet to earn his degree. (Photo courtesy of the University of Pretoria.)
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As Pistorius becomes stronger and faster, the able-bodied track world is forced to take notice. After finishing second in the South African national championships in the 400 meters in March, a growing segment of the track and field establishment wonders if he has gained an unfair advantage through the use of the Cheetah prosthetics which have earned him the nickname of "The Bladerunner." (Photo by Craig Owen, New York Times.)
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The IAAFdeclares Pistorius ineligible to compete in the Olympics. He assembles a team of legal and medical experts and begins to plan his appeal. IAAF Rule 144.2(e)
“For the purposes of this Rule, the following shall be considered assistance, and are therefore not allowed: […] (e) Use of any technical device that incorporates springs, wheels, or any other element that provides the user with an advantage over another athlete not using such a device” -
The Court of Arbitration for Sport upholds Pistorius' appeal and revokes the IAAF's decsion. Pistorius is cleared to attempt to qualify for the South African national team.
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Pistorius runs a personal best in the 400 meters but fails to meet the Olympic minimum qualifying standard. He is left off the South African team.
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Pistorius bounces back from his Olympic disappointment to dominate the competition at the Beijing Paralympics, winning gold in the 100, 200 and 400 meters. If he hadn't before, he has now certainly captured the attention of his nation and the world. He meets with former President Nelson Mandela.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f43KR1JAIlA Pistorius is so popular, he is now featured in NIKE commercials. In September, however, he is arrested for assaulting a female by closing a door in her face. These charges are later dropped.
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A Paris Match article shows a picture of the items kept at Pistorius' bedside table. (Photo courtesy of Paris Match.)
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Pistorius is a member of the South African 4 x 400 relay team which sets a national record in the semifinals and wins the silver medal in the World Track and Field Championships. The medal he is awarded simply adds to his burgeoning popularity. One South African magazine refers to him as the "sexiest man in South Africa."
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South Africa officially adds Pistorius to the 2012 London Olympic team. He is slated to compete both individually in the 400 meters and on the 4 X 400 meter relay team. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images.)
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Pistorius successfully reaches the Olympic semifinals but fails to qualify for the finals. The relay team advances to the finals but a botched pass leaves them far out of the medals. Pistorius is given the honor of carrying the South African flag during the closing ceremonies.
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Pistorius defends his gold medal in the 400 and adds another gold in the 4 x 100 relay, but he is relegated to silver in the 200 meters. Ironically, Pistorius sparks a controversy by complaining that the gold medalist, a Brazilian athlete, gained an unfair advantage by competing on blades which were much longer than the norm.
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Pistorius is photographed with South African model and reality television star Reeva Steenkamp, and sources confirm that the two are romantically involved.
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Police are called to Pistorius' affluent gated community early on the morning of Valentine's Day. There they find a distraught Pistorius and the body of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
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Pistorius is officially charged with first-degree murder during a courtroom hearing. The athlete, who claims he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder, sobs loudly in the courtroom before being led off to jail. (Photo courtesy of Antoine De Ras/EPA.)
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Pistorius, who is deemed to not be a flight risk, is released on bail. More details concerning his version of what he insists was an accidental shooting are leaked to the press. His trial is scheduled to start in June, 2013.
