On je svetovni rekorder v sprinterstvu iz Južne Afrike. Ona je pogumna petletnica iz Essexa v Angliji. V navdihujoči seriji fotografij, ki so pred kratkim postale viralne, se dva neznanca, ki ju združuje le trmasta zavrnitev, da bi ju ustavile dvojne amputacije, pomerita v prijateljski bionični tekmi.
Petindvajsetletni Oscar "Blade Runner" Pistorious je bil star komaj 11 mesecev, ko so zdravniki odkrili, da nima fibul, zaradi česar so mu morali amputirati obe nogi pod kolenom. Ellie May Challis je pri 16 mesecih izgubila obe roki in nogi, potem ko je zbolela za hudim meningitisom.
Čeprav je Ellie sprva nosila standardne proteze, je malčica težko hodila z njimi. Bolj dovršene noge iz karbonskih vlaken – takšne, kot jih je nosila Pistorious – so bile drage, vendar se je Elliejina skupnost zbrala za njo in zbrala 15.000 dolarjev, potrebnih za zamenjavo. Leta 2009 je petletnica postala najmlajša oseba, ki ji je bila kdaj nameščena proteza iz karbonskih vlaken.
Na notranji stezi v Enfieldu v severnem Londonu je mala Ellie dejansko premagala prvakinjo v sprinterstvu v vseh štirih tekih na 15 metrov, ob navdušenju svoje sestre dvojčice Sophie ter starejših bratov in sester Taile in Connorja.
V zgodovinski objavi je Pistorious, ki teče s posebnimi okončinami Flex Foot , dobil dovoljenje za tek na olimpijskih igrah v Londonu leta 2012, s čimer je razveljavil prepoved športnega arbitražnega sodišča. Mednarodna atletska zveza je razsodila, da Pistorious ne more tekmovati na igrah, ker njegovi okončini Flex Foot predstavljajo nepošteno prednost. Vendar je sodišče pred odločitvijo v Pistoriousovo korist pregledalo dokaze iz dveh novih (in nasprotujočih si) študij .
Pistorious se je v nedeljo uvrstil v polfinale teka na 400 metrov, v finale pa se mu ni uspelo uvrstiti. Njegov čas, 46,54 sekunde, je bil dve sekundi počasnejši od zmagovalca teka, aktualnega svetovnega prvaka Kiranija Jamesa iz Grenade. V znak spoštovanja in športnega duha je James po tekmi objel Pistoriousa in ga prosil za izmenjavo štartnih številk.
» Vidim ga le kot še enega športnika, še enega tekmovalca ,« je James povedal novinarjem dan pred polfinalom. »Še pomembneje pa je, da ga vidim kot drugo osebo. Je nekdo, ki ga občudujem in spoštujem.«
Pistorious je v intervjuju za oddajo TODAY dejal, da bo spomine na olimpijske igre cenil do konca življenja. Medtem ko je njegova 89-letna babica gledala s tribun, je Pistorious dejal: »Slišati bučanje množice in vedeti, da je za mano toliko ljudi, je bilo še toliko bolj prijetno.«
Oglejte si še več ljubkih fotografij Ellie in Oscarja Pistoriusa spodaj:
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very inspiring story...
Very inspiring and at the same time hear touching. It reminds us that hope is the greatest attribute that humans live by and we should be people who offer that hope to others.
Sohan.
WAAAY cool
You could see in these pictures that Oscar not ony made Ellie very happy but he also felt the happiness that her beautiful smile gave him.
God bless both of them, they are an inspiration to the human race.
Ok, I have a man crush on Oscar, this is how a man should act. He has a good head on his shoulders, and a decent heart. I have told my wife Oscar is my main man....
Mr. Pistorius, I imagine the gold and golden memory you gave that little girl will remain close to her for the rest of her life. Good man! Nice to wake up on Sunday morning to a story like that, it's going to be a good day!
This man is a very special person and so is Ellie. I pray they will both realize all that they can. Pistorius touched my heart and I doubt I will ever forget him.
REALLY nice to know there are truly good people left in the world!
My mother used to hush us when we begged for stuff we couldn't afford and really didn't need by saying, "I used to complain that I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet." Be thankful for what you have, and praise those who don't allow anything to stop them.
What a beautiful story from such a difficult beginning. Great people. God Bless them both.
congratulations for your awesome courage and perseverence!"Challenges are what make Life
interesting.overcoming them is what makes Life meaningful" –Joshua J.Marion
It takes stories like this to remind me and i'm sure a lot of others that majority of the things we whine about are really not important. Lovely story!
Inspiring! Persistence pays off! "What's more important, I see him as another person. Someone I admire and respect." INDEED, let us all strive to see others as PEOPLE first. That would solve so many problems. I strive to do this through storytelling. One by one if we all listened to each others stories, the misunderstanding, misperceptions, judgement, would fall away. What a wonderful world it Can be. Thank you for sharing the story! Kristin