By Blake Smith
I watched the Summer 2012 London Olympics. Oscar Pistorius was one of the athletes I watched closely.
Pistorius, who represented South America, is a Paralympic champion—he used two prosthetic legs for his running events.
After watching Pistorius in his events, I could not help but feel inspired by his hard work and dedication. It is extremely difficult to be an Olympic athlete, and he did not let his disability affect him.
Pistorius was a role model to many people.
However, when Pistorius’ name is mentioned now, it is in connection with his criminal trial.
In February 2013, Pistorius was charged with killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
According to Pistorius, Steenkamp’s death was accidental. Pistorius thought that Steenkamp was a home invader. He shot her through a bathroom door in his house early on Valentine’s Day 2013, hitting her with three hollow-tipped bullets, one of which probably killed her almost instantly, according to a March 17, 2014, CNN article about the trial.
After hearing about the incident, I immediately thought of all the people who looked at Pistorius as a role model. What would they think?
What is going through the mind of Pistorius?
I am not saying that Pistorius is guilty because everyone is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
I am not a lawyer, but, after reading some of the details of the case, the odds are not looking good for Pistorius. It is a certainty that Pistorius was the one who killed Steenkamp. The question that needs to be answered is whether or not the death of Steenkamp by Pistorius was premeditated or an accident.
My question: Will Pistorius be known for his hard work ethic, his dedication, his athleticism, and his Olympic accomplishments? Or will he be known as the Olympic athlete who murdered his girlfriend?
Only time and the trial will tell.
