Man with No Legs Runs 100 Meters in Under 11 Seconds
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South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius, a man with no legs can sprint 100 Metres in 10.91 Seconds — and he’s vying for the Olympics in Beijing.
Athlete Oscar Pistorius, age 20, is a double amputee — who runs on carbon fiber feet — that may be too fast for his own good. He’s already achieved gold medal status in the Paralympics, but aspires to run in the Olympics, Beijing just like any other man.
There’s been much contention whether he should be permitted to run in the Olympics against able-bodied athletes, because they feel he’s not your typical man, rather, an athlete whose prosthetics give him an unfair technological advantage. It’s ludicrous that a handicapped person would be seen as more abled than disabled.
It’s a debate rife with raw emotion over a tale of the conflict of technology and sport and what we understand as even competition or fair play, reports The Hindu.
Pistorius was born without fibulas and underwent double amputation below the knees as a baby. Now he’s fast enough to come second in the 400 meters at the ‘able-bodied’ South African nationals.
There’s speculation that Pistorius’ stride is longer and more repeated than for a man his height, that his prosthetics are lighter, and springier, and the fact of absence of lactic acid build-up. It’s agreed he starts slowly, but argued that he finishes too fast. Photo John Super / AP – Oscar Pistorius at approximate age 18.
This isn’t the first time for contention over handicapped athletes in competition. Casey Martin is a golfer with a degenerative leg condition that made walking 18 holes insurmountable. He appealed to the courts to be allowed a motorized cart in tournaments. Golfers with world-class titles objected, claiming that walking was elemental to golf, but a judge ruled in Casey’s favor.
Casey had the right to compete just like any other man, and the cart was an attempt to level the playing field. Likewise, wearing a hi-tech prosthetic might be the only way for Pistorius to hold his own. The argument to this is that none of these hi-tech aids are carried onto the field.
Pistorius presents a gripping quandary. Is it okay that he wears Cheetahs only for running? If an athlete is half-a-second quicker in 6 months, how much can be credited towards hard work and how much to an improved prosthetic? An International Amateur Athletic Federation official was quoted saying “We’re worried that he (Pistorius) could be in a situation where he could go to his manufacturer just as in Formula One and say ‘make me faster’.��?
So how fair is it to ban him for an advantage using a prosthetic without factoring the disadvantage of being a double amputee?
The IAAF will soon be making a decision whether or not Pistorius will be eligible for the Olympics. Either way, he’s still the epitome of an Olympian for his stamina and commendable spirit.
South Africa’s ‘Bladerunner’
Often called the ‘Bladerunner,’ Oscar Pistorius is dubbed by the media
as ‘the fastest thing on no legs’.
UPDATE
Track and field’s governing body ruled January 14 2008 that Oscar Pistorius is ineligible to compete this summer in Beijing — or any other sanctioned able-bodied competitions — because his ‘Cheetah’ racing blades are ‘technical aids’ that give him a clear advantage.
“An athlete using this prosthetic blade has a demonstrable mechanical advantage (more than 30 percent) when compared to someone not using the blade.” the International Association of Athletics Federations said.
His manager, Peet Van Zyl, called the IAAF ruling a “huge blow.” Van Zyl spoke briefly with Pistorius, saying he “could hear from his voice that he is disappointed.”
“He has been competing in South African able-bodied competition for the past three years.” Van Zyl said. “At this stage it looks like he is out of any able-bodied event.”
The 21-year-old runner said he would appeal “to the highest levels” if the ruling went against him. He could take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. The International Olympic Committee said it “respects” the IAAF decision.
South Africa’s national track and field federation says it is bound by IAAF rules and must keep Pistorius from some national races he has entered for several years.
“If we had our rules and our own competition it would be easier.” South Africa federation president Leonard Chuene said. “It is a huge problem.”
The IAAF based its decision on a study in Germany by professor Gert-Peter Brueggemann. He 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 unique and such artificial prosthesis had not been properly studied.
“Now we have the science,” IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said.
The ruling does not affect his eligibility for Paralympic events, in which he was a gold medalist in Athens in 2004.
The runner worked with Brueggemann in Cologne for 2 days of testing in November. The goal was to learn how 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. The professor said that once the runners hit a certain stride, athletes with artificial limbs needed less additional energy than other athletes.
The professor determined that the returned energy from the prosthetic blade is “close to three times higher than with the human ankle joint in maximum sprinting.” The IAAF adopted a rule last summer prohibiting ‘technical aids’ deemed to give an athlete an advantage.
Source: Sports Illustrated
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All credit to Oscar Pistorius and the people that made this possible. The man has guts and determination and why should disabled people be treated any differently to able bodied people. I’ve watched him run on tv, and can only wish him the best of luck and hope that the IAAA will accept that he will be eligible for the Olympics. He may be using prosthetics, but surely that is better than performance boosting drugs?
You said a mouthful Colin.
It seems the debate for the IAAF has been going on for a couple of years now. Why the prolonged decision, I have no idea, but it’s been stated that one will be before the Olympics.
That would be exciting to watch him in action! I’ll see if I can find a video.
Wow, that would be amazing if he was allowed to run in the Olympics. What an accomplishment!
But I actually came over this way to tag you for a Tattoo Meme: http://www3.telus.net/weirdgrrl/2007/07/tattoo-meme.html
The only problem is I don’t know if you have any tattoos! So if not, you’re off the hook. But if so… Tag, you’re it!
I don’t think he should be allowed to be in olympics. He does have an advantage over the others.
What most people see is that this person is “disabled” as such, but in the end, with his technology, he has a better chance of winning.
I truly admire that man. A double amputee, with a very strong desire to achieve his goal. That surely needs willpower and guts. Though we may have access to the best technology in the world, it will only help us if we have the will to do something.
I don’t understand what is the problem with IAAF. Pistorius may use a prosthetic, because he does not have a choice. Atleast he is following the right path to success. The IAAF instead of focussing on people who aims to wins using drugs and other illegal method are trageting a man “who dares to dream inspite of his disabilities…
BTW thanks for your comments on my blog..
He’s quite the inspiration. I just read about him recently in my current edition of ESPN the Magazine.
Weirdgrrl, I’ve done many a thing in my life, but getting tattoed isn’t one of them
Whew! But thanks for thinking of me 
King, that’s why this is so controversial, some see it your way, while many others do not. There’s talk about studies for comparison of height verses gait etc to arrive to a more conclusive and fair decision.
I agree Nikki, Pistorius is an amazing man with incredible drive and spirit. And thanks for popping by
Brian, it appears the news is rapidly spreading. At the time that I wrote this, it was the only thing I could find, along with an article dated more than 2 years ago.
A pretty amazing post, wasn’t even aware of such a feat. I’m not surprized at the comments about the olympics though.
That is a very inspiring news. There is nothing a man cant defeat in this world. Way to go man.
Well, not to sound like a heartless bastard, but I agree that his prosthetics give him an unfair advantage. Yes, in the technical sense, he is “disabled,” but in reality, he has overcome that disability.
Of course, it comes down to how the actual rules for the Olympics are interpreted, but if prosthetics are allowed, I’d have no doubt that we’d eventually see completely able-bodied competitors using them to gain an advantage.
Jay, this is why there is so much contention, people thinking he actually has an unfair advantage, making him more of a ’super being’.
They’re trying to examine whether or not his prosthetics have given him added advantage for speed by measuring his gate etc with an average man of his height (including the prosthetics). It’s not being taken lightly; there are tests that will be run to form more of an unbiased and accurate measure before reaching a decision, which has been long in the making.
Respect to him, he had overcome his disability. Maybe IAAF should release the a specifications of a blade that doesn’t give an unfair advantage and at the same time allow amputees to compete in able-bodied events.
Really am very proud of him. Thanks for put forth article like this.
how can the IAAF say a man in a foot race with no feet is a disadvatage….keep yo head up pistorious…u have my support 100%
Pistorius is an inspiration! Someone who refuses to sit back and accept his situation, instead he strives for greatness, amazing stuff.
Stevie