I recently read an article on Oscar Pistorius and was very intrigued by it. Pistorius is from South Africa and is a sprinter. What makes him so special though is that he is competing in the Olympics while having no legs. He is the first double amputee to compete in an Olympic event, but what is even more amazing is his enthusiasm for competing. He loves what he is doing and it would be hard to find anyone as happy as him after a race. He lights up a room with his smile and is always positive even with all the hardship he has been through.
His legs were amputated when he was 11 months old and he wasn't ever suppose to even stand. However, his mother did not allow him to accept this and pushed him to want more. This has led to him now 25 years later competing in the Olympics. There is still a lot of debate over his running though. Many ask the question does his prosthetic legs actually give him an advantage? Many wonder even though he is not a threat for a medal if the issue is bringing in competition between science and sports into play.
It is sad that some people are worried about whether he has an advantage or not rather than just celebrating his accomplishment. His ability to make the Olympic qualifying time while not having any legs is remarkable. On top of this his positive attitude is inspiring and Oscar Pistorius deserves any recognition he recieves.
John Auslander
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ct-spt-0805-olympics-plaschke-pistorius-track--20120805,0,4666781.story
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