11 September 2014 5 Min Read

Oscar Pistorius’ fact file: From birth to winning medals to standing trial for murder

in Sport by Times LIVE

- South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius cries in the dock during the verdict in his murder trial, Pretoria, South Africa, on September 11, 2014. Pistorius stands trial for the premeditated murder of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013.

- Triple gold at the Paralympic Games 2008, Oscar "Blade Runner" Pistorius (R) smiles as he shows his medals to South Africa's first democratic leader Nelson Mandela on October 3, 2008, in Johannesburg. Mandela meat South African Para team.

- Oscar Pistorius, holds his scroll after receiveing his honorary doctorate from Strathclyde University in the Barony Hall on November 12, 2012 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. The athlete was made a Doctor of the University after competing at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, where he won two gold medals and a silver medal. Oscar became the first paralympian to win a medal at an able bodied championship at the 2011 World Athletics Championships.

- This file picture dated November 4, 2012 shows South Africa's Olympic sprint star Oscar Pistorius and his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp during the Feather Awards held at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg. "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius sat weeping in the dock on September 11, 2014 as a judge began handing down the verdict over the Valentine's Day killing of the star Paralympian's model lover. If found guilty of deliberately killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day 2013, he faces a life in South Africa's infamously tough prisons and notoriety that would eclipse his Olympic-sized sporting achievements.

- South Africa's relay team (L-R) Zivan Smith, Samkelo Radebe, Arnu Fourie and Oscar Pistorius pose with the timer showing their new world record after victory in the men's 4x100 metres relay T42-46 final during the athletics competition at the London 2012 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in east London on September 5, 2012.

- (From L) Jamaica's Rusheen McDonald, Dominican Republic's Luguelin Santos, South Africa's Oscar Pistorius and Russia's Maksim Dyldin compete in the men's 400m heats at the athletics event of the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 4, 2012 in London. Pistorius made Olympic athletics history here on Saturday when he became the first double amputee to competed in an athletics event.

- South Africa's Oscar Pistorius checks his starting position prior to the T44 100 m for men at the Visa Paralympic world cup at the Manchester Regional Arena, Manchester, North-west England, 13 May 2007.

- Oscar Pistorius (C) of South Africa runs to win gold ahead of Jerome Singleton (L) of the US in the final of the 100m T44 as Marlon Shirley of the US (R) falls down on the track during the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games at the National Stadium in the Chinese capital on September 9, 2008.

- South African sprint runner known as 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius poses for photographers ahead of the international Paralympic Day, in central London, on September 7, 2011. London 2012 will host International Paralympic Day in Trafalgar Square, central London tomorrow. A full day of activity is planned to celebrate elite Paralympic sport and give the public a chance to find out about each of the 20 sports to take place at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and meet GB and international athletes.

- Oscar Pistorius (C) of South Africa waves as he celebrates winning gold in the final of the 100m T44 during the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games at the National Stadium in the Chinese capital on September 9, 2008.

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Here's a look at the life of Oscar Pistorius, from birth to the moment he was charged with pre-meditated murder for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Personal:

Birth date: November 22, 1986

Birth place: Johannesburg, South Africa

Birth name: Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius

Father: Henke Pistorius, a businessman

Mother: Sheila Pistorius

Education: Attended the University of Pretoria.

Other Facts:

Born without fibulas in either leg, doctors amputated both legs below the knee at eleven months of age. Grew up in Pretoria.

Nicknamed "Blade Runner" and "the fastest man on no legs" because of the carbon-fiber prosthetic blades he wears to run track.

Winner of six gold, one silver and one bronze Paralympic medals. First double-amputee athlete to compete against able-bodied runners in the Olympics.

Timeline:

1987-1988: Both legs are amputated below the knee and fitted with first prosthetics.

June 21, 2003: Sustains knee injury while playing rugby in high school.

November 2003: Runs track as part of his rehabilitation program at the Sports Science Institute at the University of Pretoria.

June 2004: Is given his first pair of carbon fiber J-shaped limbs, with the brand name Flex-Foot Cheetah.

September 2004: Competes in the Athens Paralympics, winning the gold medal for the 200m and the bronze for the 100m in the T44 class. He sets a Paralympic world record for the 100m.

March 26, 2007: International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) introduces rule 144.2, which prohibits: (e) Use of any technical device that incorporates springs, wheels or any other element that provides the user with an advantage over another athlete not using such a device.

July 13, 2007: In Rome, finishes second in the 400m 'B' race against able-bodied athletes. The race is an IAAF test to observe and determine if rule 144.2 (e) is being broken. The results are inconclusive.

November 12-13, 2007: Completes a series of tests in Cologne, Germany, to evaluate the metabolic differences in amputees and non-amputees and whether or not those differences caused by use of the Flex-Foot Cheetah prosthetics violate rule 144.2(e). The report claims that the prosthetics give Pistorius an advantage over able-bodied competitors, which Pistorius strongly rejects.

January 14, 2008: Pistorius is banned from competing in all IAAF-sanctioned events, "...running with these prostheses requires a less-important vertical movement associated with a lesser mechanical effort to raise the body, and the energy loss resulting from the use of these prostheses is significantly lower than that resulting from a human ankle joint at a maximal sprint speed." The ruling is based on the evaluation done in Germany in November 2007.

February 13, 2008: An appeal to the ban is filed with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) by Pistorius through the law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf.

May 16, 2008: The CAS reverses the January IAAF ban on Pistorius and the Cheetahs, making him eligible to compete in the Beijing Olympics.

July 2008: Fails to qualify for the South African Olympic team.

September 2008: Wins three gold medals for the 100m, 200m and 400m sprints in the Beijing Paralympics, establishing a new Paralympic record in the 400m.

February 21, 2009: Sustains major head and facial injuries in a boat accident on the Vaal River near Johannesburg.

September 2009: Pistorius is arrested and accused of common assault, but the case is thrown out because of a lack of evidence, according to police. The incident involved Pistorius allegedly slamming a door during a party, and a piece of the door falling off and hitting someone.

September 2011: At the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, runs the opening 400m for the 4x400m relay to help South Africa qualify. Pistorius isn't selected to run the final but earns a silver medal for competing in the heats, becoming the first Paralympian to win a world championship medal.

November 2011: Pistorius tweets a photo of himself at a gun range, and writes that he had "a 96% headshot over 300m from 50 shots! Bam!"

August 4, 2012: Becomes the first double-amputee runner to compete in the Olympics, coming in eighth place in the 400m semifinal. Pistorius also later runs the anchor leg of the 4x400m relay final where the South African team comes in eighth place.

September 2012: Wins a silver medal and two gold medals at the London Paralympics. He sets Paralympic records for the 400m and the 4x100m relay.

February 14, 2013: Pistorius's girlfriend, South African model Reeva Steenkamp, is found shot to death at Oscar Pretorius's Pretoria home. Pistorius is arrested.

February 15, 2013: Pistorius is officially charged with premeditated murder in the death of Reeva Steenkamp.

February 20, 2013: Nike follows eyewear maker Oakley in also suspending their endorsement deal with Pistorius.

February 22, 2013: Leaves jail after posting a cash bond of 100,000 rand (about $11,200). Another 900,000 rand (about $100,800) is due by March 1. The conditions of Pistorius's bail are that he must avoid his home where the shooting occurred, relinquish his passport and abstain from drinking alcohol.

March 28, 2013: Judge Bert Bam lifts the travel ban on Pistorius, saying he sees no reason why Pistorius should not be allowed to travel for competition. The ban on drinking alcohol and avoiding his home where the shooting occurred is also lifted.

August 19, 2013: Is indicted on a premeditated murder charge in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

March 3, 2014: The murder trial begins with Pistorius pleading not guilty to one charge of murder and a firearms charge associated with Steenkamp's killing, as well as the two gun indictments unrelated to Steenkamp.

May 20, 2014: The judge rules that Pistorius must undergo mental health examinations over the next month. The testing was triggered by a psychiatrist's testimony who said that the sprinter has suffered from generalized anxiety disorder since he was an infant, stemming partly from the amputation of both of his lower legs because of a genetic defect.

June 30, 2014: A psychiatric assessment finds that Pistorius was not mentally incapacitated when he shot Steenkamp to death.

July 2, 2014: Mr Barry Roux, Pistorius' defence attorney, reads a psychologist's report which concludes Pistorius is severely traumatised and will become an increasing suicide risk unless he continues to get mental health care.

July 7, 2014: Stater Prosecutor Gerrie Nel challenges the credibility of a doctor who testifies that the athlete has an anxious nature linked to his disability.

July 8, 2014: The defence team closes its case and the trial is adjourned.

August 7: After a lengthy adjournment, closing arguments begin.

August 8: Judge Masipa announces she will deliver her verdict on September 11.

September 11, 2014: Judgment being handed down.