Oscar Pistorius, former track star, now released on parole after conviction for murder
5:04 PM UTC – November 24, 2023
(Reuters) – Oscar Pistorius’s life story from before and after Valentine’s Day 2013 reads like the script to two markedly different films – the first an inspirational sporting biopic and the second a grim tale of murder.
In the first he was the “Blade Runner”, the multiple Paralympic gold medallist with carbon-fibre prosthetic legs who also took on the best in the 2012 London Olympics.
In the second he was the man who murdered his 29-year-old girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp – a model and promising law graduate – by shooting her through the door of a bathroom in his Pretoria home.
On Friday, he was back in the spotlight when he was granted parole more than 10 years after the killing and told he would finally get to leave prison on Jan. 5 next year.
Pistorius, who was born without fibulas and had both legs amputated below the knees before his first birthday, was once seen as the embodiment of human triumph over adversity.
The Johannesburg-born athlete was first catapulted on to the world stage in the early 2000s, when he won Paralympic gold in the 200 metres at the Games in Athens.
After his victory, Pistorius set his sights on running against able-bodied athletes at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but was barred from competing in the event by World Athletics – then called the International Association of Athletics Federations.
The ban was eventually overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but Pistorius failed to qualify for the Olympics, coming within 0.70 seconds of the qualifying standard for the 400 metres in Beijing.
Undeterred, he swept that year’s Paralympics, taking home the 100, 200 and 400 metre gold medals, before launching another bid to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London.
This time he was successful.
At London in 2012, Pistorius became the first double amputee to run in the Olympics, reaching the 400m semi-finals and competing for South Africa in the 4x400m relay.
He added the icing on the cake with another three Paralympic medals.
Then, five months after the games, on Feb. 14, 2013, Pistorius shot and killed Steenkamp.
A gun enthusiast, he told the trial he had believed Steenkamp was an intruder when he shot her several times with ammunition designed to inflict maximum damage to the human body. It was an account he repeated over the years.
He was initially jailed for five years in 2014 for culpable homicide by a high court. But the Supreme Court of Appeal in late 2015 found him guilty of the more serious charge of murder after an appeal by prosecutors.
He was jailed in 2016, initially for six years which was later increased to more than 13 after an appeal by prosecutors who argued the initial sentence was too lenient.
In 2022, Pistorius met Steenkamp’s father Barry when participating in a process known as victim-offender dialogue – part of South Africa’s restorative justice programme that brings parties affected by a crime together in a bid to achieve closure.
Few details were made public about the meeting. “The dialogue is a private and confidential matter, hence we ask that our clients’ privacy be respected,” the Steenkamps’ lawyer Tania Koen saying at the time.
Steenkamp’s father died earlier this year. Her mother June said she did not believe Pistorius, who turned 37 this week, was rehabilitated in a statement at the parole hearing.
But she added that she had forgiven him “long ago as I knew most certainly that I would not be able to survive if I had to cling to my anger”.
Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Andrew Heavens
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How did Oscar Pistorius’s journey from a celebrated Paralympic athlete to a convicted murderer unfold?
Title: The Rise and Fall of Oscar Pistorius: From Inspiration to Tragedy
Introduction
Oscar Pistorius, a once-celebrated Paralympic athlete, became a household name for his incredible triumphs in the world of sports. However, his success story took a tragic turn on February 14, 2013, when he fatally shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. This article explores the journey of Oscar Pistorius, from being an inspiration to a convicted murderer.
From Sporting Glory to Murder
Oscar Pistorius, famously known as the “Blade Runner,” dazzled the world with his extraordinary achievements as a Paralympic gold medalist. Equipped with carbon-fiber prosthetic legs, he displayed tremendous resilience and competed alongside able-bodied athletes in the 2012 London Olympics. However, Pistorius’s life took a dark turn when he shot and killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, inside his Pretoria home.
The Road to Redemption
On Friday, Pistorius received parole after serving more than 10 years in prison and is set to be released on January 5 next year. Born without fibulas and having both legs amputated at a young age, he was initially seen as a symbol of triumph over adversity. Pistorius’s sporting achievements in the early 2000s catapulted him into the limelight, winning multiple Paralympic gold medals.
Challenges and Triumphs
Pistorius’s dream of competing against able-bodied athletes at the 2008 Beijing Olympics faced a setback when World Athletics initially barred him from the event. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport eventually overturned the ban. Although he narrowly missed the qualifying time for the 400 meters in Beijing, Pistorius emerged victorious at the Paralympics, winning three gold medals. Undeterred, he successfully qualified for the 2012 Olympics in London.
The Fall from Grace
Despite attaining the status of the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics, Pistorius’s life took a tragic turn just five months after the games. On February 14, 2013, he shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp, claiming he mistook her for an intruder. This event led to an initial conviction of culpable homicide, later upgraded to murder by the Supreme Court of Appeal in 2015. Pistorius’s sentence was initially set at six years and later increased to over 13, following an appeal by the prosecutors.
The Pursuit of Closure
In 2022, Pistorius participated in a victim-offender dialogue, which forms part of South Africa’s restorative justice program. During this process, he met Reeva Steenkamp’s father, Barry, in a private and confidential meeting aimed at achieving closure. Few details were made public about the meeting, respecting the privacy of the parties involved.
Remaining Questions and Forgiveness
Reeva Steenkamp’s mother, June, expressed her disbelief in Pistorius’s rehabilitation during the parole hearing. Nevertheless, she stated that she forgave him long ago as she recognized her own inability to survive with hatred in her heart.
Conclusion
The story of Oscar Pistorius is a tale of two contrasting narratives – from an inspiring athlete overcoming adversity to a convicted murderer. While his sporting achievements made him a global sensation, his actions on that fateful Valentine’s Day forever changed the trajectory of his life. Pistorius’s parole comes as a reminder of the complex dynamics of justice, forgiveness, and the consequences of one’s actions.
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