Over a decade after the fatal Valentine’s Day shooting of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, that shocked the world, South African Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius is now a free man after being granted parole.

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A Promising Young Athlete Brought Low

Born in 1986 without fibulas, Oscar grew up enduring numerous surgeries that led to both legs being amputated below the knee when he was just 11 months old. Despite his disability, he flourished into an elite athlete, competing in both non-disabled and Paralympic events and even reaching the semi-finals in the 400m at the 2012 London Olympics.

Dubbed the “Blade Runner” for the J-shaped carbon-fibre prosthetics he raced with, Pistorius’s resilience, drive, and charisma made him one of the most inspirational figures of the London Games. Few could foresee the devastating fall that was imminent.

Valentine’s Day Tragedy Stuns the World

In the early hours of February 14th, 2013, tragedy struck Pistorius’s Pretoria home when his 9mm pistol fatally wounded his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, through a locked bathroom door. Repeatedly claiming he mistook her for an intruder during the highly-publicized trial that followed, Pistorius was ultimately convicted of Reeva’s murder and handed a 13-year prison sentence.

Shock, outrage, and intense media scrutiny followed this dramatic reversal of fortune for South Africa’s one-time golden boy. The judge had opted to be lenient, given the athlete’s disability and first-time offender status. Still, many believed the sentence did not correctly reflect the gravity of Pistorius’s reckless actions.

Life in Prison Before Parole

Despite becoming eligible for release under corrections supervision back in 2020 after serving half his term, Pistorius remained imprisoned amid reports of bad behaviour like fighting with inmates and refusing to take counselling sessions seriously.

After multiple unsuccessful attempts, South African correctional services finally agreed he had made sufficient progress to return to the outside world. Victims’ rights groups continue protesting that the original sentence was too short for such a high-profile murder of an intimate partner.

What Comes Next for Oscar Pistorius?

Now aged 36, Oscar Pistorius has returned to the home of his late uncle Arnold, who raised him under strict conditions of his parole. These include continuing required counselling, avoiding contact with the affected families, refraining from handling firearms, and taking medication prescribed for his mental health.

The prospect of Pistorius ever resurrecting some semblance of everyday life again – let alone his once illustrious sporting career – remains doubtful. Yet his fierce persistence and refusal to view himself as disabled defined his early attitude to life. Only time will tell whether Pistorius can attempt walking on his blades once more.

The legacy of his unprecedented fall from universally revered inspiration to convicted Valentine’s Day killer will surely continue haunting Pistorius always. For many, the senselessness of beautiful model Reeva Steenkamp’s tragic end still elicits that same question 11 years later: why?