SA sprinter Oscar Pistorius reaches the final

Oscar Pistorius

Date: 20 Sep 2004
Updated: 20 Sep 2022

The seventeen year old Pretoria schoolboy sprinter of Pretoria Boys' High, Oscar Pistorius, fell coming out of the start of his 200m heat for leg amputees, then showed mind-blowing speed and tenacity to surge from last to victory in a world record 23.42sec for double-amputees at the Athens Paralympic Games. He was shocked by his achievement. He cried tears of mixed frustration and relief after his first bitter-sweet Paralympic experience. "I've never been so scared in all my life out there," said the likeable youngster who was born with no shin bones. He continued: "Oh man, I fell flat on my knees and hands. It was pure adrenalin that made me chase the field down." This victory secured Pistorius an opportunity to participate in the finals.

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01 News24,'Oscar falls then runs record ', [online], Available at: www.news24.com [accessed 16 September 2013]

Last updated · 20 Sep 2022

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). SA sprinter Oscar Pistorius reaches the final. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013595

South African History Online (2011) 'SA sprinter Oscar Pistorius reaches the final', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013595 (Accessed: 18 August 2026).

South African History Online, SA sprinter Oscar Pistorius reaches the final [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013595, (accessed 18 August 2026).

"SA sprinter Oscar Pistorius reaches the final." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013595. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "SA sprinter Oscar Pistorius reaches the final." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013595.