Oscar Pistorius Returns To Competition, 12 Years After Killing Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorius, the South African former Paralympic star, made headlines for participating in a triathlon in Durban, 12 years after the tragic incident where he murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius, now 38, was released from prison in January 2024 after serving over half of his sentence and is currently on parole until 2029.

Singabakho Nxumalo, a spokesperson for South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services, confirmed that Pistorius had permission to join the Ironman 70.3 Durban race and that he did not violate his parole terms.

Pistorius’ attorney, Conrad Dormehl, mentioned that his participation in the event is part of his rehabilitation process. While Pistorius enjoyed the triathlon, he is not planning a return to competitive running at this time. The athlete, known as the “Blade Runner” for his prosthetic legs, had previously claimed that he mistakenly shot Steenkamp, thinking she was an intruder.

Pistorius’ release on parole stirred emotions in a country plagued by violence against women. Pictures of Pistorius cycling in the race surfaced, showing his race number, tattoo, and prosthetic legs. Official results revealed that Pistorius finished 555th overall in the Ironman race and placed third in the “physically challenged” category.

Once a celebrated figure in the sports world, Pistorius won numerous gold medals in the Paralympics and advocated for disabled athletes to compete in mainstream sports events. He also participated in able-bodied races at the London 2012 Olympics.