Today is International Day
of People with a Disability.
A South African sprinter
Oscar Pistorius once said:
“You’re not disabled by
the disabilities you have,
you are able
by the abilities you have.”
So.. who’s Oscar and
why does his opinion count so much?
Oscar was born in 1986 without a fibula. (That’s one of the bones in our legs.) Doctors and his parents finally made the decision to amputate both of Oscar’s legs below the knee. They did this while he was still young – before he could learn to walk. Within days of receiving his first prosthetic legs, he had mastered them.
Oscar knew no different to his “new” legs. He was an active sportsman all through school. He especially enjoyed water-polo and rugby, but also played cricket and tennis, competed in triathlons and boxed.
During a rugby game,
he shattered his knee and
thought his sporting career was over.
thought his sporting career was over.
He was only 16.
A doctor suggested he take up running, to rehabilitate his leg. Before long, he had won a 100 metre school race. His father realised that his time was faster than the existing Paralympic world record.
Coming home from his first Olympics, he carried a Gold medal for the 200m (with a world record time) and a bronze medal for the 100m race.
Wanting to push himself even further, Oscar competed against able bodied athletes and came 6th in a 400m final event.
He was performing so well that examinations of his running were scheduled. Findings reported that Oscar was able to run as fast as able bodied athletes, without using as much energy as them... his prosthetic limbs were helping too much!
Oscar challenged this – no one had considered the disadvantages he faced at the start of races and while slowing down for corners.
Back at the Olympics, Oscar was very success in Beijing. He was the first athlete in history to win gold in the 100m. 200 and 400m events (including a new world record).
In 2009, a boating accident left Oscar with serious facial and head injuries. This couldn’t stop him and before long... he was back, breaking more records.
Being born without two very important bones... and wearing prosthetic limbs from a very young age could be reason enough for taking life easily.
Oscar didn’t.
Most people with a disability don’t.
There are so many incredibly adventurous people who simply overcome whatever blows they were dealt...
They fight...
They adapt...
and they succeed,
especially if the people around them
believe in them, too.
“You’re not disabled by the disabilities
you have,
you are able
by the abilities you have.”
(Oscar Pistorius)
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