Vanessa Richardson

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.

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.