Double amputee Paralympian, Pistorius was born with fibular hemimelia (congenital absence of the fibula) in both legs. When he was 11 months old, both of his legs were amputated halfway between his knees and ankles. He attended Constantia Kloof Primary School and Pretoria Boys High School, where he played rugby union in the school’s third XV team. He played water polo and tennis at provincial level between the ages of 11 and 13. In addition, Pistorius took part in club Olympic wrestling, and trained at Jannie Brooks’s garage gym in Pretoria. Brooks remarked that it took six months before he noticed that Pistorius “had no legs”, but nonetheless was able to do many exercises, including “boxing, skipping, and doing press-ups”.
