South African sprinter, Oscar Pistorius who is a four-time Paralympic champion, will stand trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, more than a year ago. Prosecutors allege the killing was premeditated, but Mr Pistorius claims he
Photo- AP
In 2012 he again made history, by becoming the first double-amputee to compete at both the Olympics and Paralympics. Seen here: Relatives and friends of the late South African model mourn at the crematorium building.
In 2011 he made history by becoming the first amputee to run at the World Championships, where he took silver with South Africa's 4x400m sprint team."You're not disabled by your disabilities but abled by your abilities," he told Athlete magazine in
Just eight months after taking to the track, he smashed the 200m world record at the Athens Paralympics 10 years ago. Next up was the 2008 Beijing games where he took the 100m, 200m and 400m sprint titles and launched a battle to take part in the
Born in 1986 in Johannesburg with no fibula bones, Pistorius had both legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old. But he played sports unhindered while growing up, switching to running after fracturing a knee playing rugby. Seen here:
But his "Blade Runner" epithet, earned by his trademark prosthetic legs that powered him to fame, swiftly became recast as the "Blade Gunner" after he shot dead Reeva Steenkamp. Seen here: with the South Africa's relay team after setting a new
Before the shock shooting, Pistorius was one of the world's most recognisable and admired sportsmen. A formidable competitor known as the "fastest man on no legs", he was courted by luxury big brands and named to flattering lists such as the "