Oscar Pistorius competes in triathlon 12 years after murdering girlfriend
South African former Paralympic star
Oscar Pistorius was spotted competing in a triathlon last weekend in the coastal city of Durban, 12 years after murdering his girlfriend and a year after his release on parole.
Advertisement
Afrikaans-language news website Netwerk24 on Wednesday reported Pistorius' participation in the Ironman 70.3 competition. Netwerk24 cited an unnamed source as saying that Pistorius had permission from his parole officer to compete.
Conrad Dormehl, a lawyer for Pistorius, confirmed to Reuters that Pistorius had participated in the Durban race.
Singabakho Nxumalo, spokesperson of South Africa's Department of Correctional Services, said he did not know whether Pistorius had received permission to compete, but would find out and respond to questions sent by Reuters. He said his parole officer would have needed to approve him travelling from where he lives to another district.
Pistorius – dubbed 'Blade Runner' for his carbon-fibre prosthetic legs – shot dead 29-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door on Valentine's Day in 2013, in a crime that drew worldwide attention and shocked a nation inured to violence against women.
Oscar Pistorius crosses the line to win gold in the men's 400m final at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Photo: AFP
He repeatedly said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder and launched multiple appeals against his conviction on that basis. Pistorius, now 38, was freed from jail in January 2024 after completing more than half his sentence and is on parole until his sentence expires in 2029.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Oscar Pistorius competes in triathlon 12 years after murdering girlfriend
South African former Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius was spotted competing in a triathlon last weekend in the coastal city of Durban, 12 years after murdering his girlfriend and a year after his release on parole. Advertisement Afrikaans-language news website Netwerk24 on Wednesday reported Pistorius' participation in the Ironman 70.3 competition. Netwerk24 cited an unnamed source as saying that Pistorius had permission from his parole officer to compete. Conrad Dormehl, a lawyer for Pistorius, confirmed to Reuters that Pistorius had participated in the Durban race. Singabakho Nxumalo, spokesperson of South Africa's Department of Correctional Services, said he did not know whether Pistorius had received permission to compete, but would find out and respond to questions sent by Reuters. He said his parole officer would have needed to approve him travelling from where he lives to another district. Pistorius – dubbed 'Blade Runner' for his carbon-fibre prosthetic legs – shot dead 29-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door on Valentine's Day in 2013, in a crime that drew worldwide attention and shocked a nation inured to violence against women. Oscar Pistorius crosses the line to win gold in the men's 400m final at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Photo: AFP He repeatedly said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder and launched multiple appeals against his conviction on that basis. Pistorius, now 38, was freed from jail in January 2024 after completing more than half his sentence and is on parole until his sentence expires in 2029.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong AI creator's mental health system for athletes inspired by Simone Biles
Hong Kong entrepreneur Jonathon Wan Kwok-keun is no stranger to overcoming mental setbacks - when he was 18 and swimming near Ocean Beach, San Francisco, he was pulled under by a current, lost consciousness, and needed a nearby surfer to save his life. Now 51, Wan does not remember much about that day in a city he has called home since 1991. But the mental scars remained, and he did not swim again for nearly two decades. More than 30 years later, Wan overcame his fear and completed the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon twice, as well as dozens of Ironman races and marathons. His experience also led to him co-founding a system that uses smart wearables and AI tools to analyse athletes and provide early warning signs of mental and physical deterioration, helping coaches and clinicians know when to intervene and what to do. 'For the athlete or the coach, they will be able to see, for example, if you're above or below a certain threshold,' Wan said. 'And there are recommended actions that you should take, for example, breathing, yoga, stretching, an ice bath or take a little walk. 'It is guided by professionals, ice baths are awesome, but do you know how long or how often you need it? That's why we need coaches and professionals to do a little hand holding.'
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- South China Morning Post
South Africa reopens inquiry into murders of 4 apartheid-era activists by police hit squad
A South African court opened an inquest on Monday into the murders 40 years ago of four anti-apartheid activists by a police hit squad in one of the most notorious atrocities of the apartheid era. No one has been brought to justice for the 1985 killings of the so-called Cradock Four, and their families have accused the post-apartheid government of intervening to block the case from going to trial. Teachers Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe and Sicelo Mhlauli and railway worker Sparrow Mkonto were abducted and killed while returning home from a political meeting in the southern town of Cradock. 'After 40 years, the families are still waiting for justice and closure,' Advocate Howard Varney, representing relatives of the four men, told the court in an opening statement. 'We intend to demonstrate that the deaths of the Cradock Four were brought about by way of a calculated and premeditated decision of the apartheid regime taken at the highest level of the government's state security system,' Varney told the court in the Eastern Cape city of Gqeberha. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up to uncover political crimes carried out under apartheid refused amnesty to six men for the Cradock Four killings.
