Vanessa Richardson

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.'"

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.'"

Which is why Oscar decided it was time to start training for the regular Olympics. And in 2012, he finally earned a spot on the South African team. That summer, he'd be heading to the London Games as the first ever double amputee runner to compete. But that wasn't the only monumental thing coming Oscar's way.

Which is why Oscar decided it was time to start training for the regular Olympics. And in 2012, he finally earned a spot on the South African team. That summer, he'd be heading to the London Games as the first ever double amputee runner to compete. But that wasn't the only monumental thing coming Oscar's way.

Which is why Oscar decided it was time to start training for the regular Olympics. And in 2012, he finally earned a spot on the South African team. That summer, he'd be heading to the London Games as the first ever double amputee runner to compete. But that wasn't the only monumental thing coming Oscar's way.

That year, he'd also meet someone very important, someone most people thought he'd spend forever with. But in this case, forever would only last a couple of months before Oscar's entire world came to a screeching halt. On August 4th, 2012, Oscar Pistorius took to the starting blocks of the London Olympic Games.

That year, he'd also meet someone very important, someone most people thought he'd spend forever with. But in this case, forever would only last a couple of months before Oscar's entire world came to a screeching halt. On August 4th, 2012, Oscar Pistorius took to the starting blocks of the London Olympic Games.

That year, he'd also meet someone very important, someone most people thought he'd spend forever with. But in this case, forever would only last a couple of months before Oscar's entire world came to a screeching halt. On August 4th, 2012, Oscar Pistorius took to the starting blocks of the London Olympic Games.

His first event was a preliminary heat in the 400-meter race against five other athletes. As the pistol was fired, the Blade Runner took off with the rigor and stamina he was known for. The crowds in London cheered Oscar's name so loud you would have thought he was competing for the home team. And he made many of those onlookers, including his nation of South Africa, proud.

His first event was a preliminary heat in the 400-meter race against five other athletes. As the pistol was fired, the Blade Runner took off with the rigor and stamina he was known for. The crowds in London cheered Oscar's name so loud you would have thought he was competing for the home team. And he made many of those onlookers, including his nation of South Africa, proud.

His first event was a preliminary heat in the 400-meter race against five other athletes. As the pistol was fired, the Blade Runner took off with the rigor and stamina he was known for. The crowds in London cheered Oscar's name so loud you would have thought he was competing for the home team. And he made many of those onlookers, including his nation of South Africa, proud.

That day, he finished second, advancing to the semifinals. But the following afternoon, Oscar wasn't on top of his game. He came in last, missing out on a spot in the finals. Even though Oscar didn't win a medal, he arguably won something more valuable at those London games — the admiration of millions of people. Overnight, Oscar became a global icon.