Comments on: Oscar Pistorius, Double Amputee Olympic Sprinter

By: Eneils Bailey

Eneils Bailey — Sat, 17 May 2008 17:31:20 +0000

I admire his courage.
But, I question the wisdom of this ruling. A ruling today may have unintended consequences tomorrow.

By: charles austin

charles austin — Sat, 17 May 2008 15:04:50 +0000

Just be glad East Germany and the U.S.S.R. no longer exist. I'd hate to imagine what they might have done.

By: William d'Inger

William d'Inger — Sat, 17 May 2008 14:50:49 +0000

Clearly, the decision was made for political correctness rather than for technological reasons, but I can't blame Pistorius for making the effort. The TimesOnline site says the decision has bumped his appearance fees up to £20,000 a pop (which is something like US$40K).

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Sat, 17 May 2008 10:12:32 +0000

Why can't they just manufacture the blades such that any mechanical advantage is neutralized and approve certain prosthetics for use and not others?

Presumably, that's what they've tried to do in this case. But, as my last paragraph hints at, it's not that simple. "Mechanical advantage" as compared to what? The best human feet, ankles, knees, ligaments, tendons, etc.? The average? If the former, it's certainly an advantage, since it stands to reason that the person wouldn't otherwise be that good.

By: Grewgills

Grewgills — Sat, 17 May 2008 06:03:13 +0000

Why can't they just manufacture the blades such that any mechanical advantage is neutralized and approve certain prosthetics for use and not others?

By: aw

aw — Fri, 16 May 2008 23:09:46 +0000

this seems to be the death of the OLYMPICS....

who will watch..or care..after a few more years of such decisions???

sigh....

By: aw

aw — Fri, 16 May 2008 23:06:17 +0000

well .. the true intent of the olympics has been compromised... ... obviously ....and my statement is not made to denigrate any challenged people!!!.. but one does start to wonder::...is all this just for the sake of Pistorius' ego, instead of the true spirit of the Olympics... oh well.. sigh...

By: floyd

floyd — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:55:40 +0000

How about a hemi powered wheel chair?[with nitrous!]
But seriously, how about leaf springs on the shoe soles of ordinary sprinters?

By: William d'Inger

William d'Inger — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:21:54 +0000

More amazing: the opponents argue that he has an unfair advantage.

There's nothing amazing about it. I can't find the data at the moment, and don't have time to research it, but I have read those things provide runners with significant mechanical advantage. As I understand it, the effect is greater than taking steriods. P.S. I have always felt Tom Dempsey's shoe gave him an unfair advantage.

By: Devon Pulloff

Devon Pulloff — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:18:38 +0000

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

By: charles austin

charles austin — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:13:10 +0000

Is it strictly true to say he has no legs?

It is amazing that any prothetics without a power source could allow him to compete at this level. But where do you draw the line? If he had prosthetics that had wheels on it, would that be fair? How do you determine what an unfair advantage is?

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:42:01 +0000

Tom Dempsey, New Orleans Saints, kicked a 63 yard field goal in 1970. He had half a foot; other kickers contested the record boot. The front of his shoe looked like a sledge hammer so there was some validity to their claim, but the record kick counted.