Drawing From the Well Within

Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart;

a wise person draws from the well within.

Proverbs 20:5

You are not disabled by the disabilities you have,

you are abled by the abilities you have.

Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius is a South African sprint runner - nicknamed Blade Runner, and known as the fastest runner on no legs.  Oscar was born in 1986 without a fibula in either leg.  When he was 11 months old, his legs were amputated below the knees.  He was introduced to running in 2004, and the rest is history.  This summer, he is competing in the London Olympics - the first double amputee to ever participate in the regular Games.  

As Oscar began to race competitively and win, there were those who argued that his blade prosthetics gave him an advantage over regular runners with ankles and feet.  In 2008, the International Association of Atheletics Federations (IAAF) declared him to have such an advantage, and ruled his particular prostheses ineligible for competition.  He appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.  After a two-day hearing, the IAAF decision was overturned, effective immediately.  Oscar said, "My focus throughout this appeal has been to ensure that disabled athletes be given the chance to compete and compete fairly, with able-bodied athletes."  He continued his quest to qualify for the Olympics, and this year South Africa included him on the team for London.  After the announcement, Pistorius said: "Today is truly one of the proudest days of my life. 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 honour and I am so pleased that years of hard work, determination and sacrifice have all come together."

Yesterday Oscar qualified for the semi-finals of the men's 400 meter sprint, finishing second in his heat. Tomorrow he will race in Semi-Final Heat #2.  He has consistently refused to allow his disabilities to define him, and now he is well on his way to re-defining the parameters of track and field competition.