This was published 11 years ago
Oscar Pistorius' historic athletics career
South African double amputee Oscar Pistorius’ historic athletics career is on hold after he was sentenced to five years in prison for killing his girlfriend.
Before shooting Reeva Steenkamp dead on Valentine’s Day 2013, Pistorius competed in both the individual 400m and also the 4 x 400m relay in London in 2012. He managed to qualify for the semi-finals in the individual event while the South African relay team he was a part of reached the final.
As well as his historic achievement of competing on the Olympic stage, Pistorius is also a six-time Paralympics gold medallist.
(AAP Images)
At 11 months old, he had both legs amputated halfway between his knees and ankles.
He has been dubbed both "Blade Runner" and "the fastest man on no legs".
He failed to reach the qualifying time to compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Pistorius won the 100m gold medal at the Beijing Paralympic Games.
He won gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 400m (T44) sprints in Beijing.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that his blades do not give him an unfair advantage.
He was part of South Africa's silver medal 4x400m relay team at the 2011 Worlds.
In London, he finished last in his 400m semi-final in a time of 46.54 seconds.
