Pistorius: Not the right type of role model

Oscar Pistorius was once a role model to many. He made history this past summer as the first person with a double-leg aumputation to compete in the Olympic Games. Representing South Africa, Pistorius ran in the 4x400-meter relay and the individual 400-meter relay. He posted a blazing time of 45.44 seconds in the race, remarkably advancing to the men's 400-meter semifinal. Nicknamed "Blade Runner," Pistorius' story was inspiring and reminiscent of other great athletes, such as Jim Abbott and Tom Dempsey, who also refused to let physical disabilities hamper their athletic dreams.

Today, Pistorius is being charged for the murder of his girlfriend in a case that is garnering international attention. While he is innocent till proven guilty, clearly the inspiration his story generated has disappeared. The charm and appeal he exuded after a glowing, historic performance has turned to disgust. Whether he ultimately is exonerated or not, the Pistorius case demonstrates that we don't really "know" somoene just because they are a celebrity. They are under public scrutiny, but what happens behind closed doors, we may never know. The ubiquitous nature of celebrities perhaps causes us to fall into that trap - but it is merely an illusion, a mental trick of sorts.

Pistorius gained worldwide fame after the Olympics. Because he is a celebrity, the air of ambiguity, which surrounds people in the public eye, caused us to look beyond his talents as an athlete and portray him as a good person, too. However, if he has let you down, I'm not sorry - you shouldn't have looked up to him - at least as a role model figure.

Don't get me wrong - what Pistorius did defied conventional assumptions of athletic ability and redefined our notion of physical limitation. It was a story that projected hope in the face of adversity and displayed technology's ever-increasing capabilities. His performance left the world in awe.

He is a gifted track star. And that is all.

If anything, he should have inspired the masses because of his athletic achievement, considering his circumstance as a competitor with an enormous disability. But if you viewed him as a good person only because of his athleticism, then you may have not have distinguished his talent from his character.

The definition of what a role model is seems blurry at times. How should we define a role model? Is it based on their behaviors and the lengths at which we go to imitate them?

If that's the case, let's take a closer look at some other great athletes.

Mike Tyson was convicted of rape.

Michael Vick served 21 months in prison after he was found guilty of operating a dogfighting ring.

Pete Rose bet on sports, even betting on his own baseball team.

These men were revolutionary figures in their respective sports. Their unique abilities, coupled with an intense passion for their craft, contributed to an evolution in boxing, football and baseball.

Still, these men are no role models.

Clearly, there are some athletes that might be admirable role models. For example, Muhammad Ali's monumental efforts as a humanitarian might be what he is best remembered for down the road. Arguably the greatest athlete of all time, Ali helped organizations including Make-A-Wish and the Special Olympics. Ali has received numerous awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor a civilian can receive. Through it all, Ali used his fame and accrued power to positively contribute to society.

Nonetheless, the vast majority of people that emulate Ali have never met him. They have no idea what he's like in private. They have no conception of the "off-camera" Muhammad Ali. No matter how much good he does publicly, this disconnect will always exist. To me, a real role model is a good-natured figure that possesses traits such as being accountable, reliable and compassionate. A real role model is someone whose morality is on point with their values. A real role model strives to promote the goodness and decency of humankind.

A real role model is someone you know, someone close to you.

It is often lamented that role models are in short supply today. They aren't - we're just looking in the wrong places. I know who my role models are. They are my parents, my brothers and my sister. They are not celebrities (just yet) - they are good people. They've shaped me into who I am and continue to become.

Thus, I challenge you: Who are yours? www.dailyllini.com