Vanessa Richardson

It leaves some people feeling invincible, and others more vulnerable. And it almost always comes with a price. But fame wasn't written in the stars for Oscar Pistorius. Quite the opposite, actually. He was an underdog from birth. Oscar came into the world on November 22nd, 1986, in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa.

He was born with a congenital defect, one that left him without his fibula bones in the bottom half of his legs. So, at 11 months old, Oscar's parents, Hank and Sheila, had to make a heart-wrenching decision about their son's future, and they believed it would be best for Oscar if they had both of his legs amputated from the calf down.

He was born with a congenital defect, one that left him without his fibula bones in the bottom half of his legs. So, at 11 months old, Oscar's parents, Hank and Sheila, had to make a heart-wrenching decision about their son's future, and they believed it would be best for Oscar if they had both of his legs amputated from the calf down.

He was born with a congenital defect, one that left him without his fibula bones in the bottom half of his legs. So, at 11 months old, Oscar's parents, Hank and Sheila, had to make a heart-wrenching decision about their son's future, and they believed it would be best for Oscar if they had both of his legs amputated from the calf down.

As difficult as that process must have been, Hank and Sheila knew this was the best way for Oscar to live a normal life. And they were right. By his second birthday, Oscar was learning how to walk with prosthetic legs.

As difficult as that process must have been, Hank and Sheila knew this was the best way for Oscar to live a normal life. And they were right. By his second birthday, Oscar was learning how to walk with prosthetic legs.

As difficult as that process must have been, Hank and Sheila knew this was the best way for Oscar to live a normal life. And they were right. By his second birthday, Oscar was learning how to walk with prosthetic legs.

Would kids at that age notice their differences from other kids? Are there any long-lasting psychological repercussions to something like that?

Would kids at that age notice their differences from other kids? Are there any long-lasting psychological repercussions to something like that?

Would kids at that age notice their differences from other kids? Are there any long-lasting psychological repercussions to something like that?

Well, regardless of whether Oscar noticed his differences that young, he never let them stand in his way. And that mostly came at the encouragement of his mother, Sheila. She made sure Oscar was treated exactly like his two other siblings, insisting there was no such thing as disability in their house.

Well, regardless of whether Oscar noticed his differences that young, he never let them stand in his way. And that mostly came at the encouragement of his mother, Sheila. She made sure Oscar was treated exactly like his two other siblings, insisting there was no such thing as disability in their house.

Well, regardless of whether Oscar noticed his differences that young, he never let them stand in his way. And that mostly came at the encouragement of his mother, Sheila. She made sure Oscar was treated exactly like his two other siblings, insisting there was no such thing as disability in their house.

As she told the kids each morning, quote, "'Carl, you put on your shoes, and Oscar, you go put on your legs.'" It was that sort of thing that made Oscar push himself beyond his limits, and soon he wasn't just exceeding expectations around the home, he was changing the minds of his peers, too.

As she told the kids each morning, quote, "'Carl, you put on your shoes, and Oscar, you go put on your legs.'" It was that sort of thing that made Oscar push himself beyond his limits, and soon he wasn't just exceeding expectations around the home, he was changing the minds of his peers, too.

As she told the kids each morning, quote, "'Carl, you put on your shoes, and Oscar, you go put on your legs.'" It was that sort of thing that made Oscar push himself beyond his limits, and soon he wasn't just exceeding expectations around the home, he was changing the minds of his peers, too.

By his teens, Oscar had transitioned to a pair of lighter prosthetics, and for the first time in his life, sports became a possibility. Always eager to outperform, Oscar joined the water polo team and the rugby team, and he gained a newfound confidence because of it. But this new high Oscar was riding? Well, it was about to be usurped by a series of unexpected events.

By his teens, Oscar had transitioned to a pair of lighter prosthetics, and for the first time in his life, sports became a possibility. Always eager to outperform, Oscar joined the water polo team and the rugby team, and he gained a newfound confidence because of it. But this new high Oscar was riding? Well, it was about to be usurped by a series of unexpected events.

By his teens, Oscar had transitioned to a pair of lighter prosthetics, and for the first time in his life, sports became a possibility. Always eager to outperform, Oscar joined the water polo team and the rugby team, and he gained a newfound confidence because of it. But this new high Oscar was riding? Well, it was about to be usurped by a series of unexpected events.

By 2002, when Oscar was 15, things had already been challenging for the Pistorius family. Sheila and Hank had divorced a few years prior, forcing the three kids and Sheila into a smaller house. In his father's absence, Oscar distracted himself with sports, but things at home took a turn for the worse when Sheila was diagnosed with hepatitis.