Another idol bites dust! I had already written about similar cases, taking examples of Tiger wood and Lance Armstrong. From the very pinnacle of popularity they tumbled down, due to their own deeds. Reasons, it is women, fame or wealth, what else?
Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius, a double below knee amputee, shot to fame by participating in the World Athletics Championships in 2011, a meet meant for able bodied athletes. He competed in the 400 meters sprint and the 4 × 400 meters relay event and won silver in the relay event for South Africa. A year later, though an amputee, he made history by taking part in the Summer Olympics in London in the year 2012.
He became the darling of the masses, a persona who displayed the highest of endurance to overcome a big physical weakness, win over it to lead the life of a normal person and compete with fully able bodied individuals at the highest levels. Nations and Associations honoured him. Companies sponsored him and made him the brand ambassador. He won the love of the beautiful Ms. Reeva Steenkamp, a model cum TV artiste and together they showed the perfect picture of a couple in deep love. Everyone thought of it as eternal and joyously wished them the very best.
And then what happens?
On the early morning of Valentine’s Day this year, he shoots his sweetheart down to death. He was arrested and taken to prison. While he wants to portray the mishap as accidental, there is the public prosecutor clamoring over him with argument that it is indeed a premeditated murder. What is right? We cannot tell now but time will …...
However I have this uncanny feeling in my gut that Pistorius killed her. Do I have reasons for the argument? Very little, I know……
My theory is based on this understanding of watching top glamorous people, those who hit the roof with adulation and popularity. Suddenly they believe that they could do anything and whatever they are doing is right. They feel that they are justified in doing anything. Even if they do a wrong, they internalize that people will condone it. They completely live in a make believe world, an ivory tower, being fed with only things they like, hearing only good things that they want to hear. Actually they lose the balance and truly go nuts.
Pistorius’s case cannot be any different. The biggest challenge of a human is the ability to be balanced at the time of being in the pinnacle of glory. Very low percentage of people had overcome it and led normal lives. For a majority, it is the summit, then do an absolutely wrong thing and tumble down to the abyss of bad fame, to be forgotten, forever.
What will happen to Pistorius? Will he be able to crawl out of the deep gorge that he had fallen? Will people help him to come back to lead a normal life? Will he be able to compete in international athletic events and win prices? What will be his future?
Yes, my guess is as good as yours…………………..
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