The Fastest Man On No Legs

By - 294 words

Language

Reading Level

Listen to Article

Photo credit: CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

20-year old Oscar Pistorius is known by many names - some call him "The Fastest Man on no Legs" others "Blade Runner" - we call him AMAZING!

Oscar was born without a fibula - the long thin bone that anchors the calf muscle and forms the outside of the ankle - in both his legs. When he was just 11 months old, his parents had to make a decision of either confining Oscar to a wheelchair, or amputate (cut off) both his lower legs and give him artificial legs. They chose the latter and six months later Oscar was walking on his first pair of artificial legs made of fiberglass.

Perhaps this is why Oscar has never thought of himself as "disabled" - at school he played rugby, water polo and tennis. He even tried wrestling. In 2004, after suffering from a serious rugby injury, he was introduced to running.

He fell in love with it and in just three years has won many gold medals in the Paralympic Games (for athletes with disabilities) and currently holds the world record for 100m, 200m and 400m.

The only thing that bothers Oscar is that people think of him as "disabled", because he believes he is not. His biggest wish is to compete in the normal Olympic Games. Recently however, the Olympic Committee rejected his application, because they thought his "running" legs do not get as tired as "real" legs and that he may have an unfair advantage over the other runners.

While this is a bummer, Oscar says he will try again at the next Olympics, but meanwhile we believe that nothing can hold back this amazing man whose motto in life is:

"You're not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have."

Sources: Time.com, sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Cite Article
163 Comments
  • Lets make a rapabout 7 years
    It's mad how he can run so fast but with no legs youd think hed be last but believe and see what your minds can do lil lou couldn't run this speedy but he was very needy like very even worse than baby Mary the dog very smog like fog well this guy is going for a Jog.
    • angie33
      angie33about 7 years
      incredible
      • turtlesturtles
        turtlesturtlesover 7 years
        This is amazing!
        • Goatover 7 years
          Sick
          • Goatover 7 years
            Sick
            • davidover 7 years
              cool
              • jacksepticeye21
                jacksepticeye21almost 8 years
                sad but hes a legend
                • Brialmost 8 years
                  This is amazing
                  • dogo loverabout 8 years
                    so sad
                    • lyrikover 8 years
                      um how put me on this site!