The first time I read about Oscar Pistorius I was inspired. It was while I was writing draft after draft of my personal essay and my professor gave me the copy of New York Times Magazine that included a feature on him.
He proved to everyone that being “disabled” doesn’t have to hold you back. He showed the world that you don’t have to give up.
His story motivated me to finish mine.
It was never easy for him. People still argue about whether he has an unfair advantage running on carbon-fiber blades even though he was cleared to compete in the London Olympics. It’s somewhat unbelievable to me that people would honestly argue that a man without legs had a competitive advantage against every other runner with two legs. I’m guessing they’ve never lost a limb before. It’s never an advantage.
But now this man, who I admired for his passion and refusal to give up, is accused of murdering his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day. As a courts reporter, I’m skeptical. As a fan of his, I’m hoping it’s not true.
I’ve read a lot of different stories about him and this situation the past few days, and I’m not sure what to believe. The stories painting the picture of him being a gun-loving man with a sketchy past annoy me on one level. But as a journalist, I understand the reporters are doing their job. You can’t ignore the facts.
But it’s still upsetting. He was the first double-amputee to compete in the Olympics, and I’m sure an inspiration to amputees around the world.
As said in a recent New York Times article about him: “Those who support Pistorius are now left to hope for an awful consolation.” And that’s what I’m doing—hoping for the best.
Lindsey Erdody 