Oscar Pistorius dusts off his “blades” to compete in Ironman triathlon

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Oscar Pistorius. Picture: X

Former Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius made his much-anticipated return to the world of sports by competing in the Isuzu Ironman 70.3 triathlon held in Durban on June 1.

This event marks his first competitive appearance since his release on parole in January 2024, following a highly publicised conviction for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013.

The Ironman 70.3 is a grueling challenge, involving a 1.9-km swim, a 90-km cycle ride, and a 21.1-km run, totalling 70.3 miles of endurance testing. Impressively, Pistorius finished 555th overall and secured third place in the “physically challenged” category, clocking in at 5 hours, 56 minutes, and 39 seconds, as per the official results from SportSplits.

According to Daily Mail, Conrad Dormehl, Pistorius’s attorney, reaffirmed that participation in the triathlon forms part of his client’s rehabilitation process. “He enjoyed the event,” Dormehl stated, adding that Pistorius is not contemplating a full return to competitive running, opting instead to focus on his recovery and personal growth.

Following stringent parole conditions, which are set to remain in place until 2029, Pistorius needed consent from his parole officer to make the journey from Pretoria to Durban for this event.

These conditions include ongoing therapy sessions, and a comprehensive media ban aimed at securing his privacy as he navigates this complex stage of his life.

First published by Cape Town etc

Also see:Oscar Pistorius alleged job hunt ends in rejection