Monday, February 18, 2013

Pistorius

Any avid readers will remember this post about the Olympics this summer. One of the most amazing stories was Oscar Pistorius, the Olympic sprinter using artificial limbs to compete.

His story was amazing, the obstacles he had overcome were incredible, and the inspiration he provided was unforgettable. Pistorius could do anything he wanted in life.

But today he stands accused of murdering his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine's Day. I try not to comment on pending cases before any final outcome is settled, except to explain the legal or courtroom procedure or use the story to illustrate a point. I'll continue that precedent here because the details emerging from South Africa slowly trickle in and it is too soon to rush to any sort of judgment.

I try not to place athletes climb too high up on any pedestal. They are merely humans and lately it seems that most are prone to disappointing when anyone begins to expect perfection. Pistorius seemed like a story that would transcend sports and life. A story about a child born with a disability that some would use as an excuse and he transformed it into inspiration. I'll be following this story closely and hope to provide some insight and explanation into any of the legal proceedings.

It's shocking how quickly life an change in six months.

1 comment:

  1. It's also always interesting to see how the legal system differs from country to country.

    ReplyDelete