Oscar "Victorious"

            

        

They say you need legs to be able to run, but this man from South Africa made his own statement and proved - its the will that is required to run, not the legs. Becoming the first ever athlete with a double amputation to qualify for the Olympics, Oscar has already entered the record books without even competing in the games. But the ticket to London wasn't that easy to get for him.

Oscar Pistorius was born with congenital absence of the fibula (causing shortness and deformation) in both legs. But that could never keep him away from the play ground. A rugby player during his childhood, he has also played provincial level tennis and water polo.  In addition, Pistorius took part in club Olympic wrestling. He continued to be a rugby player until 2003 when he suffered a serious knee injury, he was introduced to running in January 2004 while undergoing rehabilitation and rest as they say is history.

In 2004 itself, he participated in the Paralympics at Athens. He came third in the 100m and won the 200m in the single amputation category.

 In 2007, Pistorius took part in his first international competitions for able-bodied athletes with his artificial lower legs. He runs with J-shaped carbon-fibre prosthetics called the "Cheetah Flex-Foot" manufactured by Icelandic company Ossur. However, Five years ago the international governing body of track and field declared Pistorius ineligible when scientists decided “Cheetah” blades gave him an edge. On the strength of these findings, on 14 January 2008 the IAAF ruled him ineligible for competitions conducted under its rules, including the 2008 summer Olympics. This decision was reversed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 16 May 2008, the Court ruling overall there was no evidence that Pistorius had any net advantage over able-bodied athletes. He failed to make the cut into the Olympics though as he failed to qualify. He participated in the Paralympics the same year, and won gold medals in 100m, 200m and 400m categories. 

The "Blade Runner" did not halt there, he went on to win a silver medal as part of the 4x400m relay team at the 2011 World Championships in South Korean city Daegu, making him the first amputee to win an able-bodied world track medal. Pistorius ran a personal best of 45.07 in Italy last year and ran a 45.20 earlier this year both of which were under the Olympics 'A' category standard of 45.30 for his event (400m), but it had to be achieved no more than six months prior to the Olympics for a direct qualification. He had that opportunity in June this year in the African Championships where he missed out by a whisker. However, South Africa announced his participation as he was qualified for the 'B' standard for selection, becoming the first double amputee runner at the Olympic Games. He will compete in the 400m and the 4 x 400 m relay races.

Looking at the broader prospect, its fascinating how Sports can fill up a void created through various physical or health related disabilities. It gives them the same platform as other physically normal athletes and a chance to display their skills in front of the world. There are so many examples where a sports person overcomes various hurdles and succeeds. Wilma Rudolph , considered the fastest woman in the world in the 1960s, contracted infantile paralysis (caused by the polio virus) during her childhood. Lance Armstrong overcame cancer to become a seven time Tour de France champion. Our own BS Chandrashekhar, who had an affected wrist because of a polio attack but went on to become one of the most successful leg spinner of his times. Sports do not discriminate disables, unfortunately that's not always the case in the routine life. On the field of sports, everyone is at par and that's how it should be.

            

Oscar has been an exemplary figure for the world, showing the right way to many differently-abled people. When he will take the stage at the Olympics in the 4x400m relay probably competing against the likes of Usain Bolt, it surely would be a victory for him, victory for many of us for whom he is a role model, victory for the spirit of the Olympics, victory for the Sports! Ending with one of his quotes :  "You're not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have."