Disabled runner too able
29 08 2007
Oscar Pistorius, (November 22, 1986) is a South African Paralympic runner. Known as the “Blade Runner” and “the fastest man on no legs”, Pistorius is the double amputee world record holder in the 100, 200 and 400 metres events and runs with the aid of carbon fibre transtibial artificial limbs.
Pistorius was given permission to compete with regular athletes in June this year, and ultimately hopes to compete at either the Beijing or the London Olympics.
However, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) has serious concerns that his artificial legs might actually give him an unfair advantage. The federation has been using various cameras to study Pistorius’ running motion and want to get him into the lab for further analysis.
Is this fair?
God, this is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen! He is such an inspiration!
Oscar Pistorius is the most incredible young man have ever watched. He is amazing, incredible, brave, courageous and determined and also inspirational. He is only 20 and has been a double amputee since he was 11 months old. He has had years to get use to it and he uses is disability well to the extent he just says, and I quote, ‘I am not disabled I just don’t have any legs’. It is to this view of himself and the fact that he has tried everything and also says, ‘There is nothing I can’t do that an able bodied person can do’. These two phrases that he has quoted has made me feel very humble. I have a weight problem and people can see this. Oscar wears long trousers and you are not aware of what he is lacking below the knees. So Oscar I solute you for being you. And thank you for the inspiration that you generate and in this case towards me I have lost weight and am continuing to do so. Good luck with the October testing I will be waiting with baited breat for the result which I personally think will be positive. I think the Cheetahs work like they do because Oscar makes them not the other way round. I think they will find that some of the reason will be down to the power in his upper legs.
One other thing Oscar is not exacting the ugliest man in the world but that is not why I like and admire his as I do.
Really he does have an unfair advantage. Those cheetahs are amazing. I had a chance to play with a pair and they are MUCH faster then actually running. because of the weight of your WHOLE BODY putting the flex on the blades instead of your calf doing all the work. We’ll see, I bet if you made then more boyent it would be more fair.
@ MrAKUSA
Unfair advantage? Yes, the cheetahs are amazing. When a person that has legs runs, the calf does do most of the work, just like you said. The point is, he DOESN’T have any calf muscles! HE has to use a completely different muscle to run! I can’t say for certain if it is unfair or not. When you probably played with them, you were able to utilize the spring of the cheetah PLUS the muscle of your calf. He isn’t able to do that…