Amputee sprinter ruled ineligible for Olympics

Fox News ^ | 1/14/08

[Mr. Brightside]

Amputee sprinter ruled ineligible for Olympics

Associated Press

Updated: January 14, 2008, 4:37 PM EST

MONTE CARLO, Monaco (AP) - All his life, Oscar Pistorius has had to battle adversity. Competing in the Beijing Olympics is a challenge the double-amputee runner may not be able to overcome.

The IAAF ruled Monday that the South African is ineligible to compete in Beijing — or any other sanctioned able-bodied competitions — because his "Cheetah" racing blades are considered "technical aids" which give him a clear competitive advantage.

Pistorius finished second in the 400 meters at the South African National Championships last year against able-bodied runners.

"It's unfortunate because he could have boosted team athletics at the Olympics," Chuene said.

The IAAF made its decision based on a study from German Professor Gert-Peter Brueggemann, who found several indicators the Cheetah blades provided an unfair edge.

The federation said Pistorius had been allowed to compete in some able-bodied events until now because his case was so unique that such artificial protheses had not been properly studied.

The runner worked with Brueggemann in Cologne for two days of testing in November to learn to what extent the j-shaped carbon-fiber extensions to his amputated legs differed from the legs of fully-abled runners.

Brueggemann found that Pistorius was able to run at the same speed as able-bodied runners on about a quarter less energy. He found that once the runners hit a certain stride, athletes with artificial limbs needed less additional energy than other athletes.

Pistorius was born without fibulas — the long, thin outer bone between the knee and ankle — and was 11 months old when his legs were amputated below the knee.

[Mr. Brightside]

The IAAF ruled on Monday that Oscar Pistorius cannot participate in the Beijing Olympics. (Andrew Medichini / Associated Press)

[evets]

[rednesss]

Wow, I would’ve thought that pole would snap in two.

[Joe 6-pack]

"The IAAF made its decision based on a study from German Professor Gert-Peter Brueggemann, who found several indicators the Cheetah blades provided an unfair edge."

Um...maybe that's why they're called "Cheetah" blades.

[DoughtyOne]

I’m really sorry for the guy. I’m am proud of what he and others have been able to do with adversity. He shames me for sure.

That being said, I think the right decision was made. If he trimed 15% of the present track records would it be reasonable? And should it be reasonable for folks who have also worked their entire lives to compete, to lose to a person should they be able to trim 15% of the track time in this manner?

I wish there was an easy solution to this problem.

[BigEdLB]

Youtube Video. 2nd in a race in Rome last July...

[ArrogantBustard]

“Special Olympics” are not the solution ... for obvious reasons ...

Perhaps “Enhanced Olympics” ... every competitor can use whatever devices they like ... provided they have no non-human power source.

[Mr. Brightside]

lol

Good one.

[DocRock]

"I wish there was an easy solution to this problem."

I would think another category of competition would solve the problem. Did you see "Blades of Glory"?

[DoughtyOne]

I’m all for it. Any competition that puts him on a level playing field with others that won’t corrupt the process, is a winner IMO.

[Mr. Brightside]

Yeah. This is a tough one.

I first read the article thinking this akin to some blind guy upset he could not get his pilot’s license.

But I really have mixed emotions on this.

[DoughtyOne]

Actually, no I didn’t. Perhaps you could give us a quick synopsis.

[vollmond]

That reminds me: track down the book “Limbo”. I haven’t read it in over 30 years.

[Squeako]

That moron! What he was supposed to do is slide down the pole like a fireman, rather than griping it tighter. It would have given him some smoothly-burned hands as he squeaked down the pole, but it's better than launching himself elsewhere.

Had the pole snapped, he would have gone head-first into the metal box where the pole is planted (which is how some vaulters have died).

[metmom]

Fer cryin’ out loud, let him win a gold in the Olympics.

So he uses less energy? So what? I’m impressed that he can even run on those things.

What an encouragement that would be to other handicapped individuals.

[DocRock]

Two individual skaters were banned from competing, had to give up their medals, but they were only banned from “singles”, so they became partners and skated in that category. (Comedy as they were both men)

[metmom]

ping

[metmom]

I don’t suppose that they’d consider that the *edge* these things give him would be offset by the lack of legs below the knee?

[Centurion2000]

The IAAF made its decision based on a study from German Professor Gert-Peter Brueggemann, who found several indicators the Cheetah blades provided an unfair edge.

When people start having their legs removed in preference to getting these carbon fibre 'legs' it becomes an unfair advantage. Until then they are prosthetics.

[ArrogantBustard]

Alternative is to make spring-blade running a mainstream event. The things can be fitted to able bodied competitors, and are really no different from skis, snowboards, boats, ice-skates ... all commonly used in accepted Olympic sports right now.