Oscar Pistorius

  • Oscar Pistorius
    Oscar Pistorius
  • Sport
    Track & Field
  • Medals
    • Gold 0
    • Silver 0
    • Bronze 0
  • Country
    South Africa
  • Date of Birth
    November 21, 1986
  • Height
    5' 11" (1.81m)
  • Weight
    170lbs. (77kg)
  • Age
    26
  • Gender
    Male
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Headshot of Dan WetzelDan Wetzel

Oscar 'Blade Runner' Pistorius shows his heart, fulfills dream

His South African 4x400 relay team may have finished last, but Oscar "Blade Runner" Pistorius proved himself to be a true Olympic athlete.

Latest News

  • Thursday's Sports In Brief

    MIAMI (AP) -- A packed outdoor deck behind a popular Miami-area sports bar partially collapsed during the NBA Finals on Thursday night, sending dozens of patrons … More »

    AP - Sports - Fri, Jun 14, 2013 3:33 AM EDT
  • Pistorius left off Paralympic team, …

    JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- As expected, Oscar Pistorius has been left off South Africa's track team for the Paralympic world championships. … More »

    AP - Sports - Thu, Jun 13, 2013 10:40 AM EDT
  • Tuesday's Sports In Brief

    COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio State University President Gordon Gee abruptly announced his retirement after he came under fire for jokingly referring to ''those damn … More »

    AP - Sports - Wed, Jun 5, 2013 3:41 AM EDT
  • Oscar Pistorius briefly back in court …

    Oscar Pistorius briefly back in court …

    PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) -- Oscar Pistorius stood for his entire 15-minute court hearing Tuesday, staring straight ahead, hands clasped in front of him and … More »

    AP - Sports - Tue, Jun 4, 2013 10:36 AM EDT
  • Brief Oscar Pistorius hearing leaves …

    The former Olympic star's public appearance raises questions and more emotions. … More »

    Yahoo! Sports - Tue, Jun 4, 2013 10:31 AM EDT

Schedule & Results

  • Symbol for Event results in medals
Dates and times are in EDT.
Time Event Type Sport Event Stage Match
8/4/12 5:35 AM Track & Field Men's 400 Meters Heats See Results
8/5/12 3:48 PM Track & Field Men's 400 Meters Semifinal See Results
8/9/12 6:35 AM Track & Field Men's 4x400m Relay Heats See Results
8/10/12 4:20 PM Medal/Final Track & Field Men's 4x400m Relay Final See Results

Oscar Pistorius Biography

Pistorius may not be a favorite to medal in the 400 meters this summer, but his mere presence in London will be an inspiration to people with disabilities around the world. The South African, who had his lower legs amputated as a baby after he was born without either fibula, will become the first amputee athlete to compete in a running event at the Olympics. Even before he was named to South Africa's team, Pistorius' achievements garnered plenty of recognition - perhaps most notably as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world and as the 2012 Laureus Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability. Nicknamed "Blade Runner" for the prosthetic limbs he uses on the track, Pistorius has been forced to overcome claims that his artificial lower legs give him an advantage over able-bodied runners. The IAAF, the world governing body for athletics, ruled him ineligible for competition in 2008, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport unanimously overturned that ruling a few months later. Pistorius attempted to qualify for the Beijing Games that summer, but came up short in the 400 and was not selected for South Africa's 4x400-meter relay team. He did, however, win gold medals in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter races at the Beijing Paralympics, adding to a pair of medals he won in Athens. After recovering from serious injuries suffered in a 2009 boat accident, Pistorius qualified for the world championships last year, reaching the semifinals in the 400 and helping South Africa win a silver medal in the 4x400 relay. He ran the first leg in the qualifying heat, in which the team set a national record, although he did not run in the final. It seemed like he would not get the chance to run in the individual 400 in London after he barely missed meeting South Africa's strict qualifying criteria, but he has run the Olympic "A" standard twice in the last year and was chosen for the team anyway. He also figures to be a fixture in the relay, which probably represents Pistorius' best chance to medal - and produce a magical moment on the podium.

Overall Medal Count

Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 United States 46 29 29 104
2 China 38 27 23 88
3 Russia 24 26 32 82
4 Great Britain 29 17 19 65
5 Germany 11 19 14 44
6 Japan 7 14 17 38
7 Australia 7 16 12 35
8 France 11 11 12 34