Bladerunner A.K.A. The Fastest Man With No Legs!
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24-year old Oscar Pistorius is known by many names - some call him 'The fastest man on no legs', others, 'Blade Runner' - we just 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 to either confine Oscar to a wheelchair, or amputate both his lower legs and fit him with artificial legs. They chose the latter, and six months later, the little boy was walking on his first pair of fiberglass legs.
Perhaps this is why Oscar has never thought of himself as 'disabled'. He grew up playing rugby, water polo and tennis and, even tried wrestling.
In 2004, after suffering from a serious rugby injury, he was introduced to running, a sport he fell in love with immediately. Within three years, he became a world-class athlete, winning numerous medals and breaking many records. At the Summer 2008 Paralympics (Olympics for people with disabilities), he made history by becoming the first competitor to win gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 400m track events.
Since he began competing, Oscar has broken 27 records, most of them set by him. However, he is not satisfied. He aspires to be the fastest sprinter in the world and has been trying to convince the Olympic Committee to allow him to compete in the normal Olympics.
While they did not allow it in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Oscar has not given up. He has appealed and is hoping that he will be allowed to compete against able-bodied athletes at the 2012 Olympics in London.
No matter what the outcome, there is very little that will 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
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170 Comments
- Germany girl over 7 yearsHi and this man is awesome 😎
- Vb21over 7 yearsThis guy is amasing!!!
- It is kristy!over 7 yearscool
- Spenseralmost 8 yearsGood job man
- ajdawesomenessabout 8 yearsOMG HE IS AWESOME
- grac290over 8 yearsthat so cool
- 11037about 9 yearsThat is incredible. Just incredible. I had no idea an amputee could do that!
- Mumover 9 yearscool
- Someoneover 9 yearshes so fast and cool I wish I could meat him
- Ronnieceover 9 yearsi like the story