Vanessa Richardson

From that day on, Oscar Pistorius was known as the Blade Runner. Not only did Oscar Pistorius win the gold medal for the 200-meter event in the Paralympic Games in 2004, he took the bronze home in the 100-meter race as well, and he continued competing in different races over the next several years. Meanwhile, Oscar juggled school alongside it.

From that day on, Oscar Pistorius was known as the Blade Runner. Not only did Oscar Pistorius win the gold medal for the 200-meter event in the Paralympic Games in 2004, he took the bronze home in the 100-meter race as well, and he continued competing in different races over the next several years. Meanwhile, Oscar juggled school alongside it.

From that day on, Oscar Pistorius was known as the Blade Runner. Not only did Oscar Pistorius win the gold medal for the 200-meter event in the Paralympic Games in 2004, he took the bronze home in the 100-meter race as well, and he continued competing in different races over the next several years. Meanwhile, Oscar juggled school alongside it.

In 2006, when he was 19, he enrolled at the University of Pretoria, outside of Johannesburg, South Africa, to study business management. But that didn't last long. Eventually, Oscar put his studies aside to compete in non-disabled races as well.

In 2006, when he was 19, he enrolled at the University of Pretoria, outside of Johannesburg, South Africa, to study business management. But that didn't last long. Eventually, Oscar put his studies aside to compete in non-disabled races as well.

In 2006, when he was 19, he enrolled at the University of Pretoria, outside of Johannesburg, South Africa, to study business management. But that didn't last long. Eventually, Oscar put his studies aside to compete in non-disabled races as well.

In 2007, Oscar finished second in a 400-meter race in Rome, Italy, and the International Association of Athletics Foundation, a governing body that regulates track and field globally, took notice of Oscar. Though not in a good way. They asked Oscar to compete in a series of rigorous tests alongside six other non-disabled athletes at the German Sport University in Cologne, Germany. The objective?

In 2007, Oscar finished second in a 400-meter race in Rome, Italy, and the International Association of Athletics Foundation, a governing body that regulates track and field globally, took notice of Oscar. Though not in a good way. They asked Oscar to compete in a series of rigorous tests alongside six other non-disabled athletes at the German Sport University in Cologne, Germany. The objective?

In 2007, Oscar finished second in a 400-meter race in Rome, Italy, and the International Association of Athletics Foundation, a governing body that regulates track and field globally, took notice of Oscar. Though not in a good way. They asked Oscar to compete in a series of rigorous tests alongside six other non-disabled athletes at the German Sport University in Cologne, Germany. The objective?

To determine whether Oscar's blades gave him an unfair advantage over his non-disabled opponents. The tests included everything from running on an outdoor and an indoor track, to riding on a stationary bike, to measuring his blood and scanning his body for specific data points.

To determine whether Oscar's blades gave him an unfair advantage over his non-disabled opponents. The tests included everything from running on an outdoor and an indoor track, to riding on a stationary bike, to measuring his blood and scanning his body for specific data points.

To determine whether Oscar's blades gave him an unfair advantage over his non-disabled opponents. The tests included everything from running on an outdoor and an indoor track, to riding on a stationary bike, to measuring his blood and scanning his body for specific data points.

In the end, they said Oscar's prosthetics allowed him to expend less energy than his competitors, therefore allowing him to maintain his speed longer and more consistently, meaning they believed Oscar did have an unfair advantage and therefore was no longer allowed to compete in non-disabled competitions. But Oscar refused to accept that.

In the end, they said Oscar's prosthetics allowed him to expend less energy than his competitors, therefore allowing him to maintain his speed longer and more consistently, meaning they believed Oscar did have an unfair advantage and therefore was no longer allowed to compete in non-disabled competitions. But Oscar refused to accept that.

In the end, they said Oscar's prosthetics allowed him to expend less energy than his competitors, therefore allowing him to maintain his speed longer and more consistently, meaning they believed Oscar did have an unfair advantage and therefore was no longer allowed to compete in non-disabled competitions. But Oscar refused to accept that.

Well, Oscar definitely stood his ground. He hired a lawyer and appealed the decision in the court of arbitration for sport, and he won. Later that summer in 2008, Oscar took the competition back to the track, specifically the Beijing Paralympics in China, There, he broke a world record for his class, completing the 400-meter race in 47.49 seconds.

Well, Oscar definitely stood his ground. He hired a lawyer and appealed the decision in the court of arbitration for sport, and he won. Later that summer in 2008, Oscar took the competition back to the track, specifically the Beijing Paralympics in China, There, he broke a world record for his class, completing the 400-meter race in 47.49 seconds.

Well, Oscar definitely stood his ground. He hired a lawyer and appealed the decision in the court of arbitration for sport, and he won. Later that summer in 2008, Oscar took the competition back to the track, specifically the Beijing Paralympics in China, There, he broke a world record for his class, completing the 400-meter race in 47.49 seconds.

He also won gold in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. And after this series of wins, Oscar felt unstoppable. He wanted to be challenged even further. The words of his late mother, Sheila, rang through his head, quote, "'The real loser is never the person who crosses the finish line last. The real loser is the person who sits on the side, the person who doesn't even try to compete.'"

He also won gold in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. And after this series of wins, Oscar felt unstoppable. He wanted to be challenged even further. The words of his late mother, Sheila, rang through his head, quote, "'The real loser is never the person who crosses the finish line last. The real loser is the person who sits on the side, the person who doesn't even try to compete.'"