Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner

Oscar Pistorius only came onto my radar during the Olympics games in London last summer. I was mesmerized by him, his performance and his demeanor. And his story. He is articulate, gracious and his strength is not just in his sport but in his character. So when I saw this book (published in 2009, before London was a reality) in the window of the used bookstore I frequent, I grabbed it.

It's a lovely autobiography and has several wonderful photos from the family archives, of him and his family, from his childhood to the present. He details the struggles and the lengths he went through to gain acceptance to compete as well as the intensive training involved. He speaks of his close relationships and the strength of his family, as well as of his charity work. He really is a remarkable young man and knowing the newest chapter that can now be added if this book is ever reprinted, makes for great reading, indeed.

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Of course, in the aftermath of recent horrific events, that *next chapter* will surely be a very different one than I had imagined. I truly felt sick when I first heard about the murder of his girlfriend. It seemed so incongruous to what I had read in this book. I am sure we haven't heard the whole story, and maybe we never will. I find it so very sad, though, that a man who had so much potential and a huge future ahead of him, has thrown it all away. It's a mark that cannot be erased.

I saw an article online not too long ago. http://articles.philly.com/2013-02-17/sports/37146036_1_oscar-pistorius-prosthet...

The opening line says it all:
He had a chance to be Jackie Robinson. Now Oscar Pistorius is going to wind up being O.J. Simpson.

So sad. Such a waste ( )