LONDON
(AP) - Out in the small Italian town of Gemona, as in many places
around the world, the arrest of Oscar Pistorius on murder charges was
hard to believe.
It
was on a new track in the northeastern corner of Italy that the
double-amputee from South Africa trained last year for his Olympic
debut, running lap after lap on his Cheetah Flex-Foot blades in
preparation for his trip to the world's biggest sporting event.
On
Thursday, shortly after Pistorius was charged in South Africa with the
shooting death of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, the mayor of
Gemona said it was tough to take.
"The
news shocked not only me personally but also the whole of Gemona and
the region. It's come as a huge shock to everyone who knew him," Mayor
Paolo Urbani told The Associated Press. "I have to say Oscar was an
exceptional testimonial for our project, helping the city take forward
its sporting plans. He's a delightful person, not only as a sportsman
but also how he is as a human being. The news is still very fragmentary
and we're waiting to hear more, to find out exactly what happened."
Pistorius
fought for years to be able to compete against able-bodied athletes
after many said his carbon-fiber blades gave him an unfair advantage. He
finally won his case in 2008, but failed to run the qualifying time for
the Beijing Olympics.
He
did, however, make South Africa's team for last year's London Olympics,
reaching the semifinals in the 400 meters and then running for South
Africa's 4x400 relay team in the final.
Nick
Symmonds, an American athlete who finished fifth in the 800 meters in
London, is friendly with Pistorius. He learned the news when he woke up
at 6 a.m. and turned on the TV.
"I
was just shocked like everybody else," he said. "We're going to have to
let the courts down in South Africa sort out the facts."
Ato
Boldon, a four-time Olympic medalist and an analyst on NBC television
in the United States, said Pistorius' name would have been the last to
come to mind if someone told him a track athlete was charged with
murder.
"He exudes class. He's gracious. He's humble," said Boldon, who felt he knew Pistorius well.
The International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee each had little to say about the case.
"This
is not the moment for the IOC to be commenting on this tragic incident.
Our thoughts are with the families affected and we send them our
deepest sympathies," the IOC said in a statement.
The IPC said it was "police matter."
"Therefore
it would be inappropriate for the IPC to comment on this incident until
the official police process has concluded," the IPC said in a statement
on its website. "The IPC would like to offer its deepest sympathy and
condolences to all families involved in this case."
The
South African Olympic committee released a statement saying it had been
"inundated" with requests for comment but were not in a position to
give out any details of the shooting.
"SASCOC,
like the rest of the public, knows no more than what is in the public
domain," the group said. "The organization is in no position to comment
on the incident other than to say our deepest sympathy and condolences
have been expressed to the families of all concerned."
Pistorius'
father, Henke, declined to comment when contacted by the AP, saying
only "we all pray for guidance and strength for Oscar and the lady's
parents."
Agent Peet van Zyl and coach Ampie Louw couldn't be reached, while Pistorius' cellphone went straight to voicemail.
Former 100-meter world record-holder Asafa Powell tweeted about Steenkamp's death.
"Sad
news about (at)oscarpistorius & fatal shooting of his girlfriend
he's a true inspiration & amazing athlete. A real tragedy for all,"
Powell wrote.
Pistorius
became an inspiration to many by overcoming his disability to compete
at the highest level. Born without fibula bones due to a congenital
defect, he had his legs ampuated at 11 months. But he still played
sports, including rugby.
"It's
incredible for anyone involved with Oscar, especially his family,"
Former Italian pole vaulter Andrea Giannini, who coached Pistorius from
2009-11, told the AP. "I knew Oscar well. I'm hoping it was just a
tragic accident. He's a marvelous person, a really sweet and calm guy.
It seemed like this was a calm time for him. He seemed really happy and
well-balanced."
___
AP
Sports Writers Stephen Wilson in London, Andrew Dampf in Schladming,
Austria, and Gerald Imray in Cape Town, South Africa, and Associated
Press writers Daniella Matar in Milan and Rachel Cohen in New York
contributed to this report.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
