Vanessa Richardson

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.

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.

Doctors tried to treat her condition, but she reacted adversely to the medication, and doctors later found they had misdiagnosed her hepatitis altogether. By that point, though, it was too late. The wrong medication had done too much damage. Only weeks after first falling ill, Sheila passed away on March 6th, 2002. Oscar seemed to take it the hardest.

Doctors tried to treat her condition, but she reacted adversely to the medication, and doctors later found they had misdiagnosed her hepatitis altogether. By that point, though, it was too late. The wrong medication had done too much damage. Only weeks after first falling ill, Sheila passed away on March 6th, 2002. Oscar seemed to take it the hardest.

Doctors tried to treat her condition, but she reacted adversely to the medication, and doctors later found they had misdiagnosed her hepatitis altogether. By that point, though, it was too late. The wrong medication had done too much damage. Only weeks after first falling ill, Sheila passed away on March 6th, 2002. Oscar seemed to take it the hardest.

To drown out the pain, Oscar buried himself deeper in sports, but he pushed himself a little too far. The following year, in 2003, Oscar injured his knee while playing rugby, which meant Oscar's one escape had been taken from him. And suddenly, he felt as though he was left with nothing.

To drown out the pain, Oscar buried himself deeper in sports, but he pushed himself a little too far. The following year, in 2003, Oscar injured his knee while playing rugby, which meant Oscar's one escape had been taken from him. And suddenly, he felt as though he was left with nothing.

To drown out the pain, Oscar buried himself deeper in sports, but he pushed himself a little too far. The following year, in 2003, Oscar injured his knee while playing rugby, which meant Oscar's one escape had been taken from him. And suddenly, he felt as though he was left with nothing.

Well, ultimately, Oscar realized his injury was actually a blessing in disguise. During his recovery, Oscar found himself in the hands of the same doctors who'd helped him 16 years earlier when he first got his amputation surgery. Only this time, during his physical therapy, one of them proposed something to Oscar, something that would change his life as he knew it.

Well, ultimately, Oscar realized his injury was actually a blessing in disguise. During his recovery, Oscar found himself in the hands of the same doctors who'd helped him 16 years earlier when he first got his amputation surgery. Only this time, during his physical therapy, one of them proposed something to Oscar, something that would change his life as he knew it.

Well, ultimately, Oscar realized his injury was actually a blessing in disguise. During his recovery, Oscar found himself in the hands of the same doctors who'd helped him 16 years earlier when he first got his amputation surgery. Only this time, during his physical therapy, one of them proposed something to Oscar, something that would change his life as he knew it.

They suggested he take up running to get his knee back into fighting shape. Oscar accepted the challenge, and just a few weeks later, by the end of January 2004, the 17-year-old ran his first 100-meter race. With his father Hank watching from the stands, Oscar smoked his opponents.

They suggested he take up running to get his knee back into fighting shape. Oscar accepted the challenge, and just a few weeks later, by the end of January 2004, the 17-year-old ran his first 100-meter race. With his father Hank watching from the stands, Oscar smoked his opponents.

They suggested he take up running to get his knee back into fighting shape. Oscar accepted the challenge, and just a few weeks later, by the end of January 2004, the 17-year-old ran his first 100-meter race. With his father Hank watching from the stands, Oscar smoked his opponents.

Not only did he win the race, he broke a record, finishing in 11.72 seconds, faster than any double amputee had before. Now, instead of returning to the rugby team, Oscar took up running full-time. There was just one problem — his prosthetic legs. They were wooden, primitive, maybe okay for high school sports, but Oscar was now in the big leagues.

Not only did he win the race, he broke a record, finishing in 11.72 seconds, faster than any double amputee had before. Now, instead of returning to the rugby team, Oscar took up running full-time. There was just one problem — his prosthetic legs. They were wooden, primitive, maybe okay for high school sports, but Oscar was now in the big leagues.

Not only did he win the race, he broke a record, finishing in 11.72 seconds, faster than any double amputee had before. Now, instead of returning to the rugby team, Oscar took up running full-time. There was just one problem — his prosthetic legs. They were wooden, primitive, maybe okay for high school sports, but Oscar was now in the big leagues.

Plus, he was starting to train for the Paralympic Games eight months later. So that same year, in 2004, Oscar was referred to an innovative company in Iceland. There, they designed custom prosthetics for the 17-year-old Oscar, state-of-the-art carbon fiber blades known as cheetahs. And when he stepped onto the track in Greece that September, he caught everyone's eye.

Plus, he was starting to train for the Paralympic Games eight months later. So that same year, in 2004, Oscar was referred to an innovative company in Iceland. There, they designed custom prosthetics for the 17-year-old Oscar, state-of-the-art carbon fiber blades known as cheetahs. And when he stepped onto the track in Greece that September, he caught everyone's eye.

Plus, he was starting to train for the Paralympic Games eight months later. So that same year, in 2004, Oscar was referred to an innovative company in Iceland. There, they designed custom prosthetics for the 17-year-old Oscar, state-of-the-art carbon fiber blades known as cheetahs. And when he stepped onto the track in Greece that September, he caught everyone's eye.