Former South African track star Oscar Pistorius, who served nine years of a 13-year prison sentence for fatally shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, is struggling to find employment post-prison. Despite maintaining that he thought Steenkamp was a burglar when he fired the fatal shots, Pistorius has been shunned by the running community and is seen as “too toxic to work with” by the South Africa’s Paralympic Committee. He has been volunteering at a local church as a handyman and janitor where he is a member of the parish with his uncle. However, members of the church describe him as cold, unfriendly, and a shadow of his former self.
After being released on parole in January, Pistorius moved in with his uncle in a mansion in Waterkloof. Before he became a killer, Pistorius was a Paralympic track star who earned the nickname “Blade Runner” for competing in races with able-bodied men using prosthetic legs. Born without fibula bones in his legs, he had amputations below both knees before turning one. Pistorius made history when he competed in the 2012 London Olympics, but now struggles to find work and has reportedly experienced rejection from his former community.
Reports indicate that Pistorius reached out to the South Africa’s Paralympic Committee for employment but was turned down, with a member citing that “there’s nothing for him here.” Another church member described Pistorius as a “shadow of what he once was” and noted that he rarely smiles and keeps to himself. Despite his attempts to move on from his past actions and reintegrate into society, Pistorius is facing challenges in rebuilding his life and is reportedly seen as a pariah within the running community.
Throughout the trial for Steenkamp’s murder, Pistorius maintained that he believed he was shooting at a burglar when he opened fire through a closed bathroom door. However, prosecutors argued that he was aware it was his girlfriend behind the door, driven by an argument they had just prior. Following his release, Pistorius has struggled to shake off the stigma of being a convicted murderer, leading to difficulties in finding work and experiencing rejection from his former colleagues in the running world.
Despite Pistorius’ attempts to volunteer and contribute to the church community, reports suggest that he remains isolated and disconnected from those around him. Observers note that he appears as a mere shadow of his former self, with little indication of his once bright and charismatic personality. The former Olympian finds himself at odds with society, struggling to shed the toxic image that now precedes him, making it challenging for him to reintegrate into the running community and secure employment following his release from prison.
As Pistorius continues to navigate life post-prison, the challenges he faces in finding work and being accepted by his community paint a stark picture of his struggle to move on from his past actions. Although once a celebrated Paralympic athlete, he now grapples with the aftermath of his crime and the resulting societal rejection. Despite his efforts to rebuild his life through volunteering and seeking employment, Pistorius remains a controversial figure, haunted by the tragedy that forever altered his life and career.
