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1. L
   September 19th, 2007 at 1:47 pm

   If it’s such an advantage, why don’t you see able-bodied athletes cutting off their legs (other than the fact that they wouldn’t be able to compete due to these stupid rules)? Steroids may give an advantage. But having no legs? I kind of doubt it.

   I think Mr. Gailey is right. The other athletes just don’t want to be beaten by someone who’s less than “perfect”.

2. sushirama
   September 19th, 2007 at 2:21 pm

   Think of it as Steve Austin running 80mph against a regular person.

3. LS
   September 19th, 2007 at 2:33 pm

   How is this fair if the appendages below Oscars knee will never get “tired” and rarely fatigue or break especially in the time period of one race? I have the utmost respect for what he is trying to accomplish but isn’t the Olympics about (for lack of a better term) human performance?

4. biltmore
   September 19th, 2007 at 3:11 pm

   I for one agree with the IAAFs decision on this. The guy TRULY has a serious advantage over others with his artificial legs.

   I applaud him for trying, and it sucks that he’s a double amputee … but you’ve got to keep the Olys pure.

5. johnald
   September 19th, 2007 at 4:09 pm

   his stride is too far, it’s inhuman (5m?). he wouldnt have that without the attachments so it would be unfair in normal olympics

6. Gellner
   September 19th, 2007 at 7:04 pm

   If you’re in the paralympics, you shouldn’t be allowed in the olympics. one or the other.

7. Akiro
   September 19th, 2007 at 8:26 pm

   It seems like everyone has good points. Oscar does indeed have something the runners do not have, but at the same the other runners also have legs which he does not. So we then have to look to oscar’s legs vs normal runner’s leg. I’d say in that comparison Oscar would win hands down, it seems the best solution would be to give Oscar artificial legs that are comparable to human legs, which don’t seem to exist.

   It would seem having a handicap is handicapping afterall… go figure.

8. Nemo
   September 20th, 2007 at 7:59 pm

   Why would he even want to compete when he knows it unbalances the playing field? Seems a bit selfish.

9. reid
   September 21st, 2007 at 10:52 pm

   the simple fact is that he has a mechanical device that, as LS said, never fatigues or strains to the point of damage (under normal conditions anyway). this has nothing to do with ‘imperfection’ and everything to do with unfair advantage.

10. Kris
    November 7th, 2007 at 12:27 pm

    I think that the issue is not about the able bodies esteem but the fact that the olymics is for the able bodied, paralympics is for the physically disabled and special Olympics is for the intellectually disabled. If someone was fully Able bodied and wanted to do the Paralympics it would be out of the question. Look what happened to spain and a few other countries when they faked intellectual disorders. The INAS-FID is still on probation. The Oscar is an amazing runner and I really do not see why the paralympics is not enough for him. What people should be fighting for is more media coverage of the Paralympics because i love watching quad rugby and those events. I tried to find it on television a few years ago and could not. Maybe more Plublicity would help make the paralympics more popular and more of a common occurance.

11. Michael Vogt
    January 13th, 2008 at 6:50 pm

    Let him compete with non-mechanical feet! Otherwise don’t let any of the other runners use shoes! That is one sure way of winning! Eliminate the competition.

    Unless all the runners are going to run barefoot and naked anything can be considered an unfair advantage.

    Michael

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