Pistorius was initially refused permission to enter the Olympics, but he hired a legal team to prove that his artificial limbs did not give him an unfair advantage, and he was allowed to compete.

While he did not win a medal, his presence on the track was lauded as an example of victory over adversity and dedication to a goal.

In the 2012 Paralympics, held a few weeks after the Olympics, he smashed a record to win the men's 400-meter in the final athletics event of the Games.

In October, he discussed the "massive blessing" of inspiring people around the world.

"Being an international sportsman, there's a lot of responsibility that comes with that," he told CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight."