Oscar Pistorius Net Worth: The Blade Runner

Oscar Pistorius, also known as the Blade Runner, is a former South African sprint runner and convicted murderer. He was born on November 22, 1986, in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa. In this piece, we will look into Oscar Pistorius Net Worth, early years, career, personal life, honors, and achievements.

Oscar Pistorius Net Worth

Early Years

Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius was born with a disease known as fibular hemimelia, which means he lacked a fibula in both legs. At 11 months old, he had both legs amputated below the knees. Surprisingly, he adjusted to prosthetic legs in six months and learned to walk again.

Oscar was raised in a Christian household with his mother, Sheila, father, Henke, older brother Carl, and younger sister, Aimée. His parents got divorced when he was six years old. Tragically, his mother died when he was 15 as a result of wrong treatment after being misdiagnosed with hepatitis.

Pistorius was an active child who competed in sports such as rugby, tennis, water polo, and wrestling. He succeeded academically while attending Constantia Kloof Primary School and Pretoria Boys High School. As a member of the rugby squad, he sustained a knee injury that would transform his life.

He started jogging at the age of 16, after injured his knee while playing rugby. Pistorius quickly discovered he had an aptitude for running and started competing in local races. He went on to compete in the 100m, 200m, and 400m races.

Career

Oscar Pistorius, known as the “Blade Runner” and dubbed the “fastest man on no legs,” excelled in track and field despite being classed as a T43 (double below-knee amputee) athlete competing in T44 events. At the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, he finished third overall in the T44 100-meter event. Despite a stumble in the preliminary 200-meter round, he advanced to the final and ran a world record time of 21.97 seconds, surpassing American runners Marlon Shirley and Brian Frasure.

In the years since, Pistorius has demonstrated his abilities in both crippled and able-bodied sports. In 2005, he finished sixth in the 400 metres in the South African Championships, setting a new world record. At the same year’s Paralympic World Cup, he won gold in both the 100 and 200 meters, breaking his previous 200-meter world record. Pistorius continued to dominate, winning gold in several events at the 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships and setting disability sports world records in the 100 and 200 meters.

Despite his accomplishments, Pistorius drew criticism for fears that his prosthetic limbs will give him an unfair advantage over sportsmen with natural limbs. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) changed its regulations in 2007 to outlaw technical devices that could provide unfair benefits. Pistorius performed thorough testing to determine whether his prosthetics provided an advantage. Based on the findings, the IAAF declared his prostheses unfit for competition under their rules, including the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Pistorius challenged this judgment before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), claiming that the testing overlooked the complexities of his talents and limitations in comparison to able-bodied athletes. Following a two-day hearing, CAS rejected the IAAF’s decision, finding insufficient evidence to establish Pistorius had an unfair advantage over non-disabled athletes. This victory allowed Pistorius to pursue his Olympic goals, demonstrating his dedication to pushing for equal opportunities for disadvantaged competitors in sports.

Oscar Pistorius was on a mission to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, with a tough “A” standard time of 45.55 seconds in the 400-meter race. Despite his dedication and hard training, he came up just short of this goal, clocking 46.25 seconds at the Spitzen Leichtathletik event in Lucerne. This meant he did not make the South African Olympic team for the individual or relay races.

Pistorius, on the other hand, exhibited incredible prowess during the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, winning gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters while also breaking new Paralympic records. His amazing performance cemented his status as one of the world’s top Paralympic sprinters.

Despite the setback, Pistorius continued to train and set his sights on qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. At the 19th Internazionale di Atletica Sports Solidarity Meeting in Lignano, Italy, he clocked a personal best time of 45.07 seconds and qualified for the World Championships and Olympic Games “A” standard in the 400 meters.

Pistorius’ tenacity earned him a place on the South African team for the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. Despite failing to move past the semi-finals in the individual 400 meters, he contributed significantly to the national record-breaking performance in the 4 × 400 meters relay.

Pistorius’ journey culminated with his selection to the South African Olympic team for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. This was a key milestone in his athletic career, since he competed in both the 400 meters and the 4 × 400 meters relay races, demonstrating his perseverance and determination to reaching his Olympic goals.

Oscar Pistorius made history at the 2012 Summer Olympics by becoming the first amputee runner to compete. He ran in the 400-meter race and advanced to the semi-finals after coming second in his heat in 45.44 seconds. Although he finished ninth in the semi-finals in 46.54 seconds, his involvement was a watershed moment in sports history.

Pistorius’ team faced a problem in the semi-finals of the 4 × 400 meters relay, as a teammate was injured before the baton handover. Despite this defeat, South Africa advanced to the final on appeal and finished eighth with a season-best time of 3 minutes and 3.46 seconds. Pistorius completed the final leg in 45.9 seconds and was selected to carry the South African flag at the closing ceremony, honoring his achievements to the team.

Pistorius continued his impressive performance during the 2012 Summer Paralympics. He set a new world record of 21.30 seconds in the 200-meter heat, but finished second in the final, with Alan Oliveira of Brazil winning gold. Pistorius then apologized for expressing concern about Oliveira’s blade length. Pistorius won gold in the 4 × 100 meters relay, achieving a world record time of 41.78 seconds with his teammates. On the final day of competition, he won gold in the T44 400 meters in 46.68 seconds, setting a Paralympic record and ending his Paralympic career on a high note.

Pistorius was also a successful businessman. He owned a company called the Oscar Pistorius Foundation, which aimed to help disabled children participate in sports.

Personal Life

He previously had a relationship with Samantha Taylor, a South African model. The pair split up due to Pistorius’ police arrest for discharging a gun in public.

In 2013, Pistorius shot and murdered his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, at his home in Pretoria, South Africa.  Pistorius claimed he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder and shot her in self-defense. The trial drew widespread media attention, and Oscar’s life took a tragic turn. Pistorius’ defense team claimed that he was suffering from anxiety and PTSD at the time of the shooting, which impaired his judgment.

He was initially convicted of culpable homicide and then had his sentence increased to murder, resulting in a six-year term. In 2017, authorities raised the sentence to 15 years. Pistorius was granted parole on January 5, 2024, with restrictions in effect until his sentence concludes on December 5, 2029.

Awards and Achievements

He received the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year with a Disability in 2012 and 2013. Pistorius also got the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award in 2012.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oscar Pistorius

1. Who is Oscar Pistorius?

Pistorius is a former South African Olympic and Paralympic athlete.

2. What is Oscar Pistorius famous for?

Pistorius is famous for his athletic achievements, as well as for his involvement in a high-profile court case.

3. What is Oscar Pistorius’ disability?

Pistorius was born without fibulas, the bones that run from the knee to the ankle, and had both of his legs amputated below the knee.

4. When did Oscar Pistorius compete in the Olympics?

Pistorius competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

5. What is Oscar Pistorius’ nickname?

Pistorius’ nickname is “Blade Runner”, a reference to his prosthetic running blades.

6. What was Oscar Pistorius’ downfall?

Pistorius’ downfall was his involvement in the death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on February 14, 2013.

7. How long was Oscar Pistorius sentenced to prison?

Pistorius sentence increased to 13 years and 5 months in prison for murder.

8. Where did Oscar Pistorius serve his prison sentence?

Pistorius served his prison sentence at the Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria, South Africa.

9. What is Oscar Pistorius doing now?

Pistorius is currently on parole with limitations in place until his sentence finishes on December 5, 2029.

10. Does Oscar Pistorius still have his prosthetic legs?

Pistorius still uses his prosthetic legs.