The setting is perfect for an astounding feat! Country - China, city - Beijing, place - the Olympic Stadium, busting at seams because an anxiously awaited race is just a heartbeat away. The runners are quite unflustered but the breath of spectators seems to be losing its rhythm with excitement. Shutterbugs are focusing their cameras again and again on a contender who is walking towards start line a bit awkwardly but still majestically. The commentators are overstraining their vocal chords telling interesting things about this man. This special contender takes his position in the outer lane.

"On your mark" commands an official. The runner in the outer lane bends for a start but not the way other runners do. Here goes the shot! Race begins. The runner in the outer lane takes an awkward start and other runners take some vital lead. The runner in the outer leg decimates the lead in a jiffy. Overtakes one, two, then rockets past a bunch of four runners and lo and behold! he is running at the third position and in a blink of an eye he leaves behind the runners at the third and the second position and is now neck to neck with the lead runner 'the defending champion'. It is a photo finish. Spectator's hearts miss a beat or two. The winner is the contender in the outer lane. He is a bit out of breath (like other runners) but full of spirit. He acknowledges the thundering applause of the spectators, takes a victory lap of the stadium, then sits on the ground and removes his legs, yes! 'His Legs' (artificial ones) to relax a bit. Yes, readers! You guessed it right. The man without legs is Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee from South Africa.

The scene enacted here, dear readers, can turn into reality. Oscar Pistorius has won his appeal and can now compete for a place in the Beijing Olympics. He has already crossed hurdles in his way, I mean the ban imposed upon him. On one hand we organize special games for physically challenged persons and now when a man despite being physically challenged has challenged the able bodied athletes of international level, the bells of suspicion started ringing (nay, blaring!) in the minds of some people (at helm) and they thought that Pistorius' artificial legs (carbon fiber blades) might give him an advantage over able bodied athletes. That suspicion has now been dispelled by the independent scientific experts. They have categorically announced that there is no evidence of any metabolic advantage in favour of Oscar using his prosthetics (artificial legs). On the contrary, he is at a considerable disadvantage. Hats off (though I don't wear one) to this legless legend!

Oscar Pistorius had his legs amputed when he was merely a year old. He is the real living legend. Just imagine a man sans legs (natural) playing rugby, water polo, tennis and participating in club Olympic wrestling. His being a double amputee does not evoke sympathy but respect and admiration which he has won the way he won many competitions where he gave his able bodied competitors a run for their money. Participating in Olympic games is the greatest honour for a sportsman, a point of 'self actualization' (Remember Maslow's hierarchy of needs?) in the career graph of an athlete. And now an athlete has reached this stage who has no legs and scaled this coveted height of the career graph on his artificial legs. Mind-boggling! Indeed! He will always remain a source of inspiration for physically challenged (this euphemism no more required) persons.

It reminds me of Sudha Chandran, (the Indian girl of 'Nache Mayuri' fame) who literally danced her way to success on an artificial leg. She also had to cross many barricades like Pistorius. It wouldn't have been that noteworthy if Sudha had excelled in singing or if Oscar Pistorius had done top honours in the game of chess. But dancing? And running? They have made the impossible possible. Though are many more unsung heroes who made the inconceivable conceivable but Pistorius put his foot ( Yes! Artificial! Then what?) on the top rung of the sports ladder.

What drives me off my head (despite tightly tied turban) is the indifference of media to this incredible accomplishment by Pistorius. A man on artificial legs is going to rub shoulders with world's top athletes in Olympic Games. The news made some ripples in the media but very soon fizzled out. The achievement of Pistorius warrants much more attention. Let people know what one's determination, zeal, devotion or will power can do. Heroic feat of Oscar has all the ingredients of getting translated into inspirational, motivational and entertaining movie. Is Shekhar Kapoor listening?

Pistorius beckons to the physically challenged persons of the world to get up and shoot their way up. Doesn't matter if they do it with artificial limbs. He also has a message for able bodied (who are disabled, by the way?) persons. Gone are days when you felt great by showing sympathy (lip sympathy most of the time) and helping physically challenged (call them challengers now!). Try it now. You'll get a kick on your back. Imagine! if this kick comes from Pistorius! Yes! You can do them a great service and that is by not getting in their way. Their way to success.

'Pistorius be thou Victorious!