Oscar Pistorius is “in tune with his star player” as Katt Williams would put it. The South African Olympic Committee officially cleared the 25-year-old after some controversy to run the 400m and 4x400m relay in London this summer.
So what? you ask. There are 125 athletes on the South African Track and Field team. What makes Pistorius so special? Well, I’ll give you one reason: he doesn’t have legs.
Yes, you read right. Instead, Oscar Pistorius has carbon fiber blades from the knee down giving him the notorious nickname of “The Blade Runner” (clever right?). Pistorius had both legs amputated at 11 months old but still spent much of his life involved in sports and took up track and field as a teenager to help with his rehab after a rugby injury. He will be the first ever amputee track athlete to compete in the Olympics. Ever.
How’s that for a story line? Screw Michael Phelps. This is the stuff made of gold- or rather, carbon fiber.
Pistorius tweeted his happiness and was quoted in an ESPN.com article saying, “To have been selected to represent Team South Africa at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the individual 400m and the 4x400m relay is a real honor and I am so pleased that years of hard work, determination and sacrifice have all come together.” So we know he’s happy- but I have to ask, what about his competitors? Indulge me in another Katt Williams reference, won’t you?
“The last place you want to be in a foot race is behind the motherf***er without no foots.”
But seriously though. How ridiculous are the guys behind him going to feel? ‘Oh who’d you lose to dude?’… ‘Uh’… ‘Well?’… ‘Yeah, I lost to the guy with no legs’ *blank stares followed by fits of laughter*
I’m not saying at all he shouldn’t compete. He should win automatically as far as I’m concerned. The outside challenges he’s had to face compared to his competition are infinitely more difficult. To go up against the likes of Usain Bolt, who encompasses the exact genetic makeup of a cheetah, you would think he wouldn’t have a leg to stand on so to speak. And he doesn’t, he has blades.
He will also defend his prior three Paralympic titles while participating in the 2012 London Paralympics as well. I know the underdog I’ll be rooting for this summer.
Girl With a Sports Problem 