ENTERTAINMENT NEWS - Despite being met with some initial backlash, ESPN’s latest 30 for 30 documentary titled The Life and Trials of Oscar Pistorius seems to have captivated some viewers with its storytelling after the first episode of the series aired this past week.

The documentary flashes back to the very beginning of the future Paralympic star’s life, chronicling his improbable ascent from a young boy who had both his undeveloped legs amputated as a toddler, to an overnight teenage phenomenon at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games.

Shattering records and convention, The Blade Runner, as he became known, went on to compete against able-bodied athletes at the Olympics.

“His struggle against international track and field officials continued for years before Pistorius finally prevailed and competed at the London Olympics in 2012. Less than a year later, he was in a South African courtroom, accused of murdering his girlfriend,” explained ESPN in a statement. 

Viewers can expect to see interviews with more than a dozen of the figures closest to the story, as the film recounts Pistorius’s fall from grace after killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of 14 February 2013 at his home in Pretoria.

According to ESPN, both the Steenkamp and Pistorius families were consulted in the research and planning for the film and were given the opportunity to be interviewed. Additionally, neither family were benefitting financially from the documentary.

A number of viewers decided to share their thoughts on the first instalment on Twitter with most finding the documentary “interesting” or “intriguing.”

Many continued to share how much they disapproved of the project.

See the full article and video here on the Caxton publication, The Citizen