Former Olympic Star Oscar Pistorius Now Sweeps Church Floors After Release From Prison For Murdering Girlfriends

Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee Olympian who went to prison for killing his model girlfriend in their residence in 2013, has been relegated to sweeping floors since he was released from prison in January 2023.

In 2012, the 37-year-old athlete achieved national acclaim as the first double amputee to participate in the Olympics, where he earned commendation as a symbol of triumph over adversity. However, within six months, Pistorius’s life took a turn when he shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, multiple times through a bathroom door. He claimed that he had mistakenly perceived her as an intruder during his subsequent 2014 murder trial.

Pistorius’s ammunition was specifically designed to cause as severe harm as possible, as was revealed during the trial, which led him to an initial conviction of culpable homicide and a five-year prison sentence in 2014. After the prosecution appealed, his sentence was extended to 13 years and five months. 

Pistorius served over half of the sentence before his release last year. Since regaining his freedom, he has secluded himself within his uncle’s heavily fortified estate in Pretoria’s exclusive Waterkloof neighborhood, complete with armed guards, advanced electronic security systems and a team of highly trained guard dogs.

While Pistorius is not obligated to wear an electronic monitoring device as part of his release conditions, his endeavors to reintegrate into society and secure employment have proven futile. He has reportedly struggled to find gainful employment, and Pistorius has resorted to voluntary work as a handyman and janitor at a local church. He attends the church alongside his uncle as a fellow parishioner. However, fellow church members describe Pistorius as distant, unsociable and emotionally withdrawn. 

Despite his attempts to reconnect with the International Paralympic Committee through requests for collaborative opportunities, Pistorius encountered swift rejection. 

Prosecutors in the murder trial asserted that contrary to Pistorius’ statement, Pistorius must have been aware of Steenkamp’s presence on the other side of the bathroom door, as they had engaged in an argument where he watched her retreat into the bathroom and forcefully slammed the door. 

After his parole, Pistorius relocated to his uncle’s mansion in Waterkloof. Before the tragic incident, Pistorius had garnered significant recognition as a Paralympic track star, earning the moniker “Blade Runner” due to his utilization of prosthetic legs in races among able-bodied competitors. His groundbreaking participation in the 2012 London Olympics solidified his place in history.