Sprinter With Two Carbon-Fiber Feet Gets Olympics Thumbs-Up

[Carlos_E]

Oscar Pistorius is a sprinter with a difference: he runs on two artificial lower legs and feet fast enough that he may qualify for the Olympics. And that's something he can now attempt, given that the Court of Arbitration for Sport has just overturned his ban. The International Association of Athletics had ruled against him competing against able-bodied runners. All because of the specialized carbon-fiber Cheetah Flex-Foot prosthetic feet he uses, which represented an unfair mechanical advantage maintained the IAAF. So the advanced artificial limbs, designed after the shape of a Cheetah's hind leg, were put to the test in the lab.



A new study led by MIT professor Hugh M. Herr revealed that the high-tech feet didn't give Oscar an advantage over able-bodied runners, conflicting with a January study at the German Sport University which stated they were 30% more efficient than a human ankle. The German study also suggested that the springy feet meant that a user would need 25% less energy expenditure than an able-bodied runner to achieve the same sprinting speed: this is the study the IAAF based the ban on.

A panel at the Court of Arbitration looked at both studies and eventually ruled in favor of Oscar, overturning the IAAF's ban and opening the gates for him to try to qualify for the 400m.

Oscar was born without fibulas, and had the lower part of both legs amputated when he was 11 months old. He runs on the J-shaped Cheetah feet now, and does so remarkably well: his PB is 46.56 seconds, which is just shy of the 45.55 second qualifying time for Beijing. He plans to train hard, but may be invited to join the South African relay team even if he doesn't beat the individual race qualifying time. And that sounds much more in the spirit of good sportsmanship than banning the guy in the first place.

[Carlos_E]

Man good for him! I hope he makes it to the Olympics.

[Carlos_E]

Video of him running.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1so1ZMgpg2w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W-vfQPN6rQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON4B-...eature=related

[ChuckLee]

If they're 110% sure that those artificial legs won't give him any unfair advantage, then he deserves to compete to the olympics.

[kfrost06]

I have been loosely following this. I can not commend the guy enough for over coming his obstacles. He is truely an inspiration to other handicap people and to all. As for the Olympics, I am torn on wether he should be allowed to compete, both sides have very good arguements but visions of the bionic man come to mind(some of you are old enough to remember that show) and soon having all your limbs would be a disadvantage.

[MASTER]

What an awesome dude! I hope he does it, though 1 second is hardly "just shy" in the world of olympic sprinting.

[Carlos_E]

I have been loosely following this. I can not commend the guy enough for over coming his obstacles. He is truely an inspiration to other handicap people and to all. As for the Olympics, I am torn on wether he should be allowed to compete, both sides have very good arguements but visions of the bionic man come to mind(some of you are old enough to remember that show) and soon having all your limbs would be a disadvantage.

I think it would be inspirational to see him compete with able bodied athletes in the Olympics. Do you think people will start hacking off limps to have a prosthetic advantage?

What an awesome dude! I hope he does it, though 1 second is hardly "just shy" in the world of olympic sprinting.

I saw that and I agree. At that level, 1 second is a very long time.

[UberSteroids]

This is amazing.

[SMCengineer]

That's awesome for him, but does no one see the irony?

[kfrost06]

I think it would be inspirational to see him compete with able bodied athletes in the Olympics. Do you think people will start hacking off limps to have a prosthetic advantage?

I should hope not but I do see it possible that in the future people with limbs would be at a disadvantage to those with "bionic" limbs.

[pumpd4lif]

Well then you have to think ...He is using special limbs why cant i use special testosterone in the olympics

[T3/T4 GSR]

Well then you have to think ...He is using special limbs why cant i use special testosterone in the olympics

Because you were born with the ability to produce testosterone...he wasn't born with feet. I am sure he would much rather be running on his feet like everyone else if he could.

[Flagg]

I have been following this loosely, good on the guy, I hope he goes the whole distance! Incidently those "bionic limbs" are known as "Cheetah's".

[Narkissos]

That's awesome for him, but does no one see the irony?

Do share.

-CNS

[CSAR]

That's awesome for him, but does no one see the irony?

It's ironic that his artificial limbs are being labelled as an "unfair advantage" when IMO most Olympic athletes are chemically enhanced, which may also be labelled as an "unfair advantage".

Marion Jones, anyone? How many drug tests "proved" she was clean?

[SMCengineer]

It's ironic that his artificial limbs are being labelled as an "unfair advantage" when IMO most Olympic athletes are chemically enhanced, which may also be labelled as an "unfair advantage".

Marion Jones, anyone? How many drug tests "proved" she was clean?

Exactly.

[kman]

I'm for him racing, and you gotta love his nickname,,,BLADE RUNNER!!!!

[FallenWyvern]

Because you were born with the ability to produce testosterone...he wasn't born with feet. I am sure he would much rather be running on his feet like everyone else if he could.

But what if you abnormally low testosterone levels ? I think those people would rather have high testosterone levels?

Having no feet much worse, clearly.

[kfrost06]

It's ironic that his artificial limbs are being labelled as an "unfair advantage" when IMO most Olympic athletes are chemically enhanced, which may also be labelled as an "unfair advantage".

Marion Jones, anyone? How many drug tests "proved" she was clean?

Bad example, Marian Jones has been stripped of her medals, divorced, flat broke and is currently in jail.

"On January 11 2008, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas sentenced Jones to six months in prison and 200 hours of community service for perjury relating to her using of steroids and for a check-fraud scam. She was also sentenced to two years probation following her prison term."

"Seven years after winning a women's record five Olympic track and field medals and receiving multi-million dollar endorsement deals, Marion Jones was broke. According to the Associated Press, Jones is heavily in debt and fighting off court judgments, according to recent court records reviewed by the Los Angeles Times. "

[CSAR]

GREAT example

Why thank you. I thought so myself!

Marion Jones was touted as one of the greatest female Olympic athletes ever to compete. She was hailed by the press as a role model for young women to emulate and her mandible was in every media outlet available. All the while she touted herself as "drug-free", when in reality she was juiced. While I feel sorry for her, she had a part in her own demise. She's a perfect example of a "drug-free and righteous" athlete who in reality enjoyed an unfair advantage over the competition. To be certain she wasn't the only one juicing then (or now), but for the IAAF to ban Oscar (who is significantly disabled) because of his prostheses reeks of hypocrisy.

Seems to me, the IAAF is also using a cunning linguist's trick by playing up the word "Cheetah", which helps to create controversy and cast doubt on Oscar's position. Most people don't realize that cheetahs actually derive their explosive speed from the flexibility of their spine and not the shape of their leg.

[CSAR]

God I'm such a post-whore...I feel dirty...

And NO DSM, you can't give me a bath!!

[DSM4Life]

God I'm such a post-whore...I feel dirty...

And NO DSM, you can't give me a bath!!

I see you at least think of me when you are feeling "dirty," thats a start

[CSAR]

I see you at least think of me when you are feeling "dirty," thats a start

GAHHHHH!! That was quick - he's on to me...

[Narkissos]

Why thank you. I thought so myself!

Marion Jones was touted as one of the greatest female Olympic athletes ever to compete. She was hailed by the press as a role model for young women to emulate and her mandible was in every media outlet available. All the while she touted herself as "drug-free", when in reality she was juiced. While I feel sorry for her, she had a part in her own demise. She's a perfect example of a "drug-free and righteous" athlete who in reality enjoyed an unfair advantage over the competition. To be certain she wasn't the only one juicing then (or now), but for the IAAF to ban Oscar (who is significantly disabled) because of his prostheses reeks of hypocrisy.

Seems to me, the IAAF is also using a cunning linguist's trick by playing up the word "Cheetah", which helps to create controversy and cast doubt on Oscar's position. Most people don't realize that cheetahs actually derive their explosive speed from the flexibility of their spine and not the shape of their leg.

Great post!

GAHHHHH!! That was quick - he's in me...

Post fixed.

That WAS fast indeed... Did he at least take you out to dinner first?



-CNS

[CSAR]

That WAS fast indeed... Did he at least take you out to dinner first?

-CNS

Bastard didn't even kiss me first and he left without so much as an "I'll call you." I feel so used...