Do you recognize the name Oscar Pistorius? No? Even though he is an Olympic sprinter, his name does not ring a bell to many Americans. However, in South Africa, he has been a household name for many years.
Mr. Pistorius has been nicknamed the “Fastest Man on No Legs." That’s right, the native South African athlete had to have his legs amputated before he was one year old. In order to work around his disability, he uses the help of carbon fiber prosthetic legs. With his prosthetics, he was the first double-amputee to compete in the 2012 London Olympics.
Now why should we remember this name? He did not leave the 2012 London Olympics with a medal and he has not done anything beneficial for American sports. However, here is the catch: he was recently given a five-year prison sentence for the negligent killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Which just so happened to occur on the Valentine's Day of last year.
That’s right, folks. A hero to South Africans has been in a downward spiral for the past few years. Not only has he been convicted of culpable homicide, but there have also been rumors about previous domestic disputes that have yet to be confirmed.
Everyone is asking where Pistorius will end up. Due to his disability, he only has to serve 10 months of his sentence before he can ask for house arrest. Some have argued that he may get special treatment in a South African jail, such as getting a cell to himself. Some also say that he would receive better treatment than the average prisoner.
It will be interesting to compare how Pistorius is treated in judicial system in South Africa to how celebrities are treated here in the United States. Expect an update to this story in the near future.
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