A sad ending: Who was Reeva Steenkamp?

The world of sports has had its share of bumps in the road lately, and this sad story adds yet one more. South African model Reeva Steenkamp, 29, was killed early Thursday morning in the upscale Pretoria, South Africa, home of her boyfriend, 26-year-old Olympic star Oscar Pistorius. While a 26-year-old man has been charged with murder, South African police won't confirm that it is Pistorius. However, CNN reports that he will appear in court Friday afternoon. South African media have been quoted as saying that Steenkamp may have been mistaken for an intruder when she was killed.

Pistorius, a beloved sports figure nicknamed "Blade Runner" because he races with the aid of carbon fiber prosthetic blades, carved a name for himself in 2012 as the only double amputee to compete in the Olympics. The runner failed to win a medal, but was remembered as an example of courage and dedication.

Steenkamp was known for not only her beauty, but her brains as well. She grew up in Port Elizabeth in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province and graduated from law school before getting into modeling. She was scouted and named the face of Avon South Africa, which quickly led to gigs with Zui, Pallo, Toyota Clover, FHM and more.

Steenkamp's Twitter page, active only hours before the tragedy, reads "SA Model, Cover Girl, Tropika Island of Treasure Celeb Contestant, Law Graduate, Child of God." In a conversation with a friend, she briefly discusses marriage only a few days before her death, as shown here.

@reevasteenkamp you too Reeva :) when's the big day?

— Adrian Fotographika(@Adrian_Monk5) February 9, 2013

@adrian_monk5 I'm not getting married though?? :/

— Reeva Steenkamp (@reevasteenkamp) February 12, 2013