Blog post 6

                                                             Oscar Pistorius- The Blade Runner

                Everyone can change the world; it just takes will and hard work. Oscar Pistorius born on November 22^nd, 1986 at the Sandston Clinic in Johannesburg, has been an inspiration to today’s society and has shown the world that nothing is impossible. Oscar was born with the fibula bone missing in both legs, and at only 11 months before Pistorius learned to walk his legs were amputated from the knee down. Wearing prostheses had its advantages and disadvantages, for example being able to walk comfortably however also getting blisters leading into neurofibromatosis (a diseases of the nervous system which causes the beginning of tumors). But Oscar is a real role model. During his life path Oscar supported many organizations and even became the ambassador of the anti-landmine project which is now very close to his heart. Nevertheless what Oscar is most known for, is for being the first double leg amputee that competed along able-body athletes at an international level. He has been shaping a running career based on his achievements and fails, some of his achievements including: gold for 100m, 200m and 400m in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, and taking gold home from Lignano, Italy on July 2011 running 45.07 second in the 400m. Oscar won many races demonstrating his strength and will to fight on even if it means running with prostheses, but what perhaps he may be not as known for, yet had a huge impact on his career, happened during the days of November 2007- April 30^th 2008. The same question was asked over and over again: Does Oscar benefit and get an advantage with his prostheses over his opponent? The IAAF tested this theory at the Cologne Sports University led by Dr. Paul Bruggemann, the outcome was negative, however it demonstrated that  Oscar’s performance during a race followed different phases, therefore new tests had to be performed on the 12^th of November 2007. The outcome was: 1. Oscar was able to run at the same speed as a normal athlete while expending 25%less energy 2. Energy restored in prosthetic limbs is over 3 times higher because it has a flexibility quote of over 90% unlike that of a human foot that is unlikely to exceed 60% 3. The limb loses 9.3% energy whereas the human ankle loses more than 41.4% and so the mechanical advantages can be qualified as more than 30%. Oscar fought back and with his own team composed of Professor Hugh Herr (from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Professor Roger Kram ( from the University of Colorado), Peter Weyand (Rice University in Houston) and a well known law firm called Dewey and LeBoeuf. They together tested new aspects of the case and finally on April 30^th 2008 everyone appeared before Court of Arbitation for Sports (CAS) in Switzerland where the case would be concluded. On the 16^th of May, 2008 Oscar received the final decision, the case was close and he was able to run with able-body athletes again. Out of this whole experience Oscar wants people from all around the world to stand up and fight for what they want, because after all as Pietro Mennea once said, sports really is like an elevator, everyone, no matter if disabled or able, tall or short, black or white, should be able to ride it.

 

Organizations he supported and has been a part of:

• Mine Seeker Foundation- this initiative is dedicated to the "detection, identification and removal of land-mines" the goals is to help those who have been affected by land-mines by rehabilitating the land mines, helping the people and shaping a future for them.
• Supports the Chaeli campaign
• Took part in a project by UNICEF called 'International Inspiration'
• He is still working on manufacturing limbs for a lower price

Achievements:
 Wrestling- 1 gold medal

Disabled atheltics : 23 gold medals
2 silver medals
1 bronze medal

In all, Oscar Pistorius is a man with a sensational life story, as well as precisely being an inspiration for many, achieving his dream, fighting past obstacles and proving himself to be the same as everyone else. Oscar is a great example of a self-actualized human being, he never gave up, he achieved his dream and with this even opened up the doors for others. Not only has he won many races and participated in many foundations, but throughout his whole career he has kept a great bond with his family. Since his murder accident on February 14^th one may automatically think he is a maniac and that he doesn’t deserve everything he has, yet compared to all his great achievements, his bond with other people and goods that he has done, he will always remain a cherished sportsmen.  He may go to jail, but he will still be remembered by the people that knew more of him, not just the negative facts that are exposed by the media, and he will be an inspirational role model who will be looked up to and a motivation to the human race.

 As his mother once wrote, “The real loser is never the person who crosses the finishing line last. The real loser is the person who sits on the side, the person who does not even try to compete.”- Sheila Pistorius.