How do you feel about contraversy over legless sprinter ?

Question

Excerpt from newspaper:

There's nobody in the world like him -- and it may stay
that way for the next maybe 10, 20 years."

But the controversy over Pistorius' legs, and whether they
constitute an unfair advantage, has recently turned ugly.
Pistorius this week accused the IAAF of discriminating against handicapped people, something the organisation denies.

Moreover, he says the debate about whether his limbs are
unfair has cast a shadow over handicapped sports generally.

More.......On Friday, Pistorius finished second in a B race at the Golden Gala meet in Rome, giving the I.A.A.F. the opportunity to analyze race footage. Davies said the I.A.A.F. found that Pistorius appeared to accelerate in the second half of the race and took less time between strides than an able-bodied runner. end quote

People are claiming he should be disqualified for having a "technology enhanced advantage" over the abel bodied - (boo hoo)

link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/16/sports/othersports/16track.html?ex=1342238400&en=5b94152cdf498b2f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

BTW what an accomplishment ! Amazing, its good to see someone with a disabled who is able to achieve something like this, unfortunately not all the disabled can -

I am not an amputee but I figure it takes MORE work from the muscles you do have to move the entire leg(s) then it does if you have a whole muscle system working for you.

The hip and thigh muscles have to take on the work of the calf muscles - hope that makes sense, and perhaps someone who is an amputee can respond with some personal knowledge and experience.

Of course he doesnt have calf muscles that could get tired, but what about the muscles that are working double time to compensate?

His "technological enhancement" is from below the knee joints

Answer 1

I've been following up with this and I really think it's amazing how fast that guy can run despite his disability. It's surely not easy to get to where he is now. That's hard work and he is a real athlete to reach such results!

I would think it has a lot more disadvantages for him to be running on fake legs than the advantages it may have. Other runners have muscles in their whole legs working together to run fast. This guy only has the use of muscles in his thighs to run. Surely that is a huge disadvantage for him? The fake legs he uses are good, but I don't think they bring enough advantages to outdo the disadvantages. Whatever anyone says, Pistorius is a top athlete!

I think it would be fair to let him run with the able-bodied. He has earned that right.

To "blktan23": His legs can't get tired?? He's using his thighs only to run as fast as those using their whole legs! I'd think he gets even more tired than the others.

Answer 2

While the prosthetic leg high technical equipment that allow amputee to run and enjoy sport. I disagree that they would give him an advantage. However he was outside the B Qualifying time.

Amputees take up twice as much energy. If it took less they the Paralympic amputees runners would have the fast record for running. However their are not a lot of double amputees runners. And I heard it because he was young when he lost his leg so part of it how tall would he be if he had his legs.

They can also test how much energy one use during exercise with computer monitors and graphs, so why don't they put the equipment on him and test it with the running legs.

Answer 3

Good luck to him.

Yes he has technology that gives him and many other amputees the chance to run, but to say he has an advantage over other able bodied people is a little unfair. These Cheetah blades give people with disabilities the chance to compete in sporting competitions like any able bodied person.

I think the nay sayers need to prove with scientific evidence that the cheetah blades, give him or others an unfair advantage before banning them.

If he is banned for having "used enhanced technology" it then needs to be asked, if he is to good for regular sporting events and Olympics, because he has the use of enhanced technology. Does this mean he is going to face the same thing when trying to compete in disabled sporting events and Olympics.

Answer 4

If Pistorius came in last place, the other runners would be fine with it, but if he comes in first then it makes them look incapable, so instead of pointing the fingers at themselves for losing, they point the finger at him because his legs aren't real therefore, they feel that he's got an advantage over them. It's much to hard for them to admit their own faults, but oh, so easy to try and find it in others. People need to get over themselves and quit being sore losers. I say let the man race and be an example of perserverance and inspiration. God bless him for being such a gift to this world.

Answer 5

Look at what he has had to accomplish to become a runner. Losing his own legs, learning to walk all over again with prosthetics, and then learning to use the running prosthetics, and finally getting himself in good enough condition to run very fast with them. He has and does work harder at it than the runners with legs. The human anatomy is complex and trying to replicate it with an artificial construct is never going to be as efficient and effective as the real thing. I'm rooting for him.

Answer 6

This controversy is so baseless and such a waste of time and makes me so angry.

The prosthetic has nothing to do with his speed. The man is strong and has put in a lot of effort. The energy comes from his thighs and not the artificial limb.

I wish the able bodied of the IAAF stand in Pistorious's shoes, or rather prosthetic device, and see for themselves if they can even take a step forward. Such a shame!

Answer 7

Unless there are other double amputees that can put on those 'enhanced' legs and run like he does, there is no basis for the complaints, IMHO.

The man has speed. No challenged runner has EVER come close to doing what he does.

Answer 8

I say let him run as hard and as fast as he wants he earns what ever he gets and no one should be able to take that away from him.

Answer 9

it does give him an unfair advantage. his legs are lighter and can't get tired. sorry but it is true.