Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius was born on November 22, 1986, in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa. He was the son of Henke and Sheila Pistorius. Oscar grew up in a Christian family with an older brother and a younger sister. His mother played a significant role in his life until she passed away when he was just 15 years old. Oscar's family has Afrikaner roots and some Italian ancestry from his maternal great-grandfather, who immigrated to Kenya.

From a young age, Oscar faced challenges. He was born with a condition called fibular hemimelia, which meant he had no fibula bones in both his legs. At 11 months old, doctors amputated both legs below the knee to provide him with better mobility. Despite this, he was determined to lead an active life. He attended Constantia Kloof Primary School and later went to Pretoria Boys High School.

In school, Oscar was active in sports. He played rugby, water polo, and tennis at provincial levels. He also participated in Olympic wrestling and trained rigorously at a local gym. The coach at the gym, Jannie Brooks, said that it took him six months to realize Oscar had no legs, as he was focused on helping him build strength and skills.

In 2003, Oscar suffered a serious knee injury while playing rugby. This injury led him to discover a new passion: running. During rehabilitation at the University of Pretoria’s High Performance Centre, he started running under the guidance of a coach named Ampie Louw. By early 2004, he had his first set of racing blades designed for sprinting, marking the beginning of his journey in athletics.

While studying for a degree in business management at the University of Pretoria, Pistorius became known as "Blade Runner" for his impressive speed. He often spoke about his belief that people's abilities define them more than their disabilities. With determination and hard work, Oscar Pistorius made a name for himself as a world-class athlete.

In the early morning of February 14, 2013, Oscar Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in his home located in Pretoria, South Africa. Pistorius fired four shots with a Taurus PT 917 CS 9mm semi-automatic pistol. He later claimed that he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder.

Pistorius was arrested and charged with murder. His trial began on March 3, 2014, in the Pretoria High Court. To determine his mental state during the shooting, the judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation found that Pistorius could be held criminally responsible for his actions.

On September 12, 2014, Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide and received a five-year prison sentence. This sentence was controversial, prompting the prosecution to appeal for a longer sentence. The appeal process took several months, leading to a significant change in his conviction.

On December 3, 2015, the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa upgraded his conviction from culpable homicide to murder. The court ruled that Pistorius must have known that firing the gun would likely result in death or injury. He was ordered to return to court for a new sentencing hearing.

On July 6, 2016, Pistorius was sentenced to six years in prison for murder. The case continued to draw attention throughout his time in prison, leading to various appeals regarding the length of his sentence. In November 2017, his sentence was increased to a total of 13 years and five months, as the court found the previous six-year term inadequate.

Pistorius became eligible for parole after serving part of his sentence. He applied for early release multiple times, but his requests faced opposition from Steenkamp's family. On January 5, 2024, Pistorius was released on parole after serving a total of 8 years and 6 months in prison, with certain conditions set until the expiration of his sentence in December 2029.