Former Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius participated in a triathlon event in Durban over the weekend, 12 years after fatally shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and one year after his release on parole.
Pistorius, 38, took part in the Ironman 70.3 triathlon, according to a report by Afrikaans-language outlet Netwerk24, which cited an unnamed source saying Pistorius had received permission from his parole officer to compete.
His attorney, Conrad Dormehl, confirmed to Reuters that Pistorius had entered the race. The Department of Correctional Services said it was checking whether Pistorius had formal approval to travel from his residence to another district to participate in the event.
A photograph published by Netwerk24 showed Pistorius mid-race, wearing bib number 105. His tattoo and carbon-fibre prosthetic legs were visible. Reuters confirmed with the photographer that similar images could be shared.
Race results from the sports-timing company SportSplits list “Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius” as competing under the same number. He placed 555th overall and finished third in the “physically challenged” category. The triathlon consisted of a 2-kilometer swim, a 90-kilometer cycling leg, and a 21-kilometer run.
Pistorius, once celebrated globally for his achievements as a Paralympic athlete, was convicted of murdering Steenkamp in 2013 after firing multiple shots through a locked bathroom door. He claimed he mistook her for an intruder. His conviction was upheld through multiple appeals, and he was sentenced to over 13 years in prison. He was released in January 2024 after serving more than half of his sentence and remains under parole supervision until 2029.
Pistorius won six Paralympic gold medals and became the first double-amputee to compete in the Olympic Games, representing South Africa at London 2012.