'Bladerunner' Wins Appeal

1. sparge
   May 16th, 2008 at 2:37 pm

   But CAS also stated that their decision in this case would not open up the floodgates for athletes with disabilities.

   "The CAS Panel has emphasised that the scope of application of this decision is limited to the eligibility of Oscar Pistorius only and, only, to his use of the specific prosthesis in issue in this appeal.

   "It follows that this decision has no application to the eligibility of any other athletes or any other model of prosthetic limb."

   True, but it still sets a precedent, and the next athlete to come along requesting permission for some mechanical prosthesis is going to point to this case and say "Why him and not me?" And while this particular model may not provide any advantage, there are definitely people who will attempt to use them to gain an advantage, just as there are people who use steroids to gain an advantage.

2. token
   May 16th, 2008 at 2:45 pm

   Even though it was proven that the prosthetics are not as efficient as real legs they never mention that his prosthetics wont get tired like real legs. thats why he is good at the 400 meter race against able bodied athletes and not shorter races. his prosthetics dont lose their energy efficiency toward the end of the race like able bodied athletes legs

3. bean
   May 16th, 2008 at 2:46 pm

   After reading the blogpost in the link, her argument seems to consist of "forget what medical and scientific professionals say, this guy deserves to compete because something really bad happened to him". That's pretty thin rhetoric.

4. token
   May 16th, 2008 at 2:47 pm

   He should not be allowed to race in the Olympics

5. Crazy Legs Johnson
   May 16th, 2008 at 3:05 pm

   I think he should be allowed to run. But as the WaPo brings up, where do we draw the line when technology starts making those who are disabled more abled than everyone else?

6. luvpumpkns
   May 16th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

   i agree with most others here. what happened to him is unfortunate, but he should not be allowed to compete. i don't see how having prosthetics made of carbon fiber isn't a clear advantage over those without them.

7. biltmore
   May 16th, 2008 at 5:19 pm

   Yeah, it sucks what happened to him ... but he should not be allowed to compete. As sparge said, this is just gonna open up the floodgates from others with disabilities saying "why does he get to get in and not me?". Isn't there a special olympics for people with disabilities anyways?

8. The Other Parker
   May 16th, 2008 at 6:27 pm

   I want to see a special competition run in parallel to the Olympics that is specifically for performance enhancement. While the Olympians maintain their "natural human abilities only" policy (fair enough), I also want to see what's really possible when people use technology to exceed their limits. Bring on the bionic men and the steroidal brutes! They deserve a place to compete, and I think the rest of us would enjoy watching their superhuman feats and saying "holy crap, how is that even possible?!" It's nice to see what progress can mean for people who embrace it.

9. kevin
   May 16th, 2008 at 6:52 pm

   threewords: "boxer+carbonfibre fists"
   and its not hard to see a wheelchaired man smoke an ablebodied marathon runner.

   I believe able bodies and disable bodies are categories, thats why they are seperated, not because of superiority.
   Therefore he should not be allowed to run. In this case, sure, it may be fair or it may be unfair. But certainly, people will abuse this right if it is established.

10. Tempscire
    May 16th, 2008 at 6:59 pm

    So, even with the advantages of those prosthetics, he still hasn't gotten to the minimum to qualify? Huh.

11. Archbob
    May 17th, 2008 at 2:59 am

    I can't see how the fake leg will be an advantage over the real one. It can't be as flexible.

12. sigh
    May 17th, 2008 at 10:07 am

    Sometimes people need to just admit, there are some things they can't do. If he actually wins anything, you'll have to have a star by his name.
    We don't allow performance enhancing drugs, why should they allow the potential of performance enhancing limbs? (I totally don't think they should have allowed those slicksuits on swimmers either, by the way).

13. kevin
    May 17th, 2008 at 10:24 am

    the slick suits are ok because everyone can choose to wear it, therefore its fair
    thats like saying shoes are performance enhancing feet. If the equipment is open to all athletes, it should be allowed.

14. kate
    May 17th, 2008 at 11:36 am

    perhaps the able-bodied runners that are complaining should just elect to have their legs amputated, get fitted for prosthetic limbs, learn to run, and compete against him. just to even the playing field. and, so their legs won't get tired.

15. sparge
    May 17th, 2008 at 12:24 pm

    kate - That's exactly what would happen when technology has advanced enough that prostheses would offer a substantial advantage.

    This decision makes it harder for the Olympics to prevent themselves from going down that road.

16. L
    May 17th, 2008 at 1:09 pm

    I don't necessarily have a problem with him running against able-bodied athletes (he appears to do a lot of distance running, which has a lot to do with lungs and overall endurance... not leg strength). I think it's great he's going to be given a chance. Keep in mind that he hasn't even achieved the Olympic qualifying time yet.

    The issue I have is that he's going to continue to compete in the Paralympic games as well. That doesn't seem fair to me. Pick one or the other. How is it any different than an able-bodied athlete petitioning to take up Olympic-level wheelchair racing while also competing in a running race?

17. Sid Morrison
    May 17th, 2008 at 1:56 pm

    I wonder if he has another pair of legs that have swim fins molded onto them... If he hurries he can probably get some made in time and kick ass in swimming as well.

    This is a stupid controversy that is only still in play because of the whiny nature of today's bleeding heart P.C. society. Seriously... Bummer about the legs, dude, but those are thee breaks.

    They have a special class for wheelchair athletes in many marathons. They can't "run" with the main class because the wheelchair athletes would kick everyone else's asses (Boston Marathon winning wheelchair times of < 1h 30m compared with over 2h for "normal" runners).

    If there are enough double-amputee athletes out there, they can have their own paralympic event. That's the whole point of those games.

18. Larry
    May 17th, 2008 at 2:49 pm

    Don't they have the Special Olympics for cripples & retards?

    Maybe he should try there.

19. Moe
    May 17th, 2008 at 4:44 pm

    Larry, the Special Olympics is for retards and the Paralympics is for cripples. But really, is this coarse language really necessary?

20. cuimhne
    May 17th, 2008 at 10:01 pm

    @Larry: You're either misinformed or trying to be funny, I don't know which is more pathetic

    Anyway, if you can sprint wearing these things, what's to stop other athletes wanting to use them during the long jump or the high jump?

21. Chris Johnston
    May 18th, 2008 at 6:47 am

    @Tempscire: Exactly what I was thinking!
    I can see not allowing him to compete if his personal best was faster than the world record...

22. L
    May 18th, 2008 at 1:16 pm

    @Larry

    Maybe you should try there if you don't understand the difference between the Special Olympics and the Paralympics.

23. DOJ
    May 23rd, 2008 at 5:10 am

    could someone explain part of the Cocktail Party Physics article for me?
    the part about "241% energy return"

24. seekshelter
    January 21st, 2009 at 4:42 am

    hmmmm.. i guess now is the time to have my arms removed and replaced with flippers... 2012 olympics here i come!!!

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