의족 스프린터 오스카 피스토리우스

 

 

They say the Olympics have never really started until the origins of the Olympics start, the Track & Field events. The Olympics have always been a place for fully able bodied people. Those who have every part of their body working for them. For those individuals who are not fully able bodied and have a physical disability, in 1948 the International Paralympic Committee set up the Paralympic Games for British World War II veterans and has grown to be one of the largest international sporting events in the world.

One individual who is a Paralympic gold medalist, three-time World Champion, and a world record holder in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres, has now rewritten the rule books on whom can take part in a Olympic event. This past weekend, Oscar Pistorius made history to become the first ever double-amputee athlete to compete in the 400m Sprint at the London Olympics. He did this wearing The Cheetah, high performance carbon-fibre blades by Ossur, earning the 25-year-old South African the nickname of “The Blade Runner 

 

 

Oscar Pistorius had both his legs amputated below his knees at the young age of 11 months, but grew up thinking he simply wore different shoes than everyone else. Born without his fibula bone, Oscar has a normal childhood thanks to his prosthetic legs, being involved in various sports like tennis, rugby and water polo.

Aftre a year of competing in his first professional race, Pistorius was running along side able bodies individuals. Oscar was challenging the times of able bodied individuals, that he set his sight on the Summer Olympics of Beijing in 2008. Although he didn’t qualify for the 400 meters in Beijing, Oscar achieved his goal after a World Cup Qualifier in July of 2011. He set a personal best time of 45.07 seconds, coming under the Olympic “A” standard time of 45.55 seconds.

This past weekend he was the first amputee to take part in the Summer Olympics, making athletic history! He placed 2nd in the first round, posting a time of 45.44 seconds, but came in last in the semi-final race posting a time of 46.54 seconds. Even though Oscar Pistorius did not make the Final of the 400 meters, he still remains a testament of what any person can do if they give their heart and soul to what they love. Oscar did this for his love of athletics, what would you do it for?

 

 

출처 : http://ajanaku.com/ajanakus-olympic-hero-oscar-pistorius/