OFF/BEAT

Amputee Sprinter Pistorius Allowed to Compete in Olympics

Almost a year ago, I asked readers whether double-amputee Oscar Pistorius should be allowed to run in the Olympics. Although OFF/beat readers overwhelmingly voted (1043-533) to allow the 21-year-old South African to compete at the Beijing Games this summer, the International Association of Athletics Federations disagreed, ruling in January that his prosthetic "Cheetah Flex Foot" blades gave him an unfair advantage.

This morning, Pistorius (and perhaps 66.2 percent of you) was vindicated when the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the IAAF decision.

According to The Post, the panel was not convinced that the blades gave Pistorius an overall "metabolic advantage." Their ruling opens the door for the "Blade Runner," as he is affectionately known, to compete for a spot on the South African Olympic team.

The result: One happy runner. "I have been struggling to hide my smile for the last half an hour," Pistorius was quoted as saying.

Born without fibulas, the Pretorian sprinter had both his lower legs amputated below the knee before his first birthday, which makes the fact that he can run 100 meters in under 11 seconds all the more amazing. Were he to race in the Olympics this summer, his story would no doubt be one of the Games' most inspiring tales. But his case also raises the rather thorny question of where to draw the line between athletic ability and technology.

True, Pistorius trained hard to become the fastest man on no legs, but he couldn't have done it without the carbon-fiber blades. And with technology improving faster than human conditioning, there may come a point in the not-too-distant future when having a disability winds up giving you too much ability.

Photos by Alberto Pizzoli/Afp/getty Images

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COMMENTS (6)

  • There is no way you can say its fair for him to run. If i cut on my legs and attached rockets to my knees I could motor too. His place is in the Special Olympics where other people are built the same as he is. The author makes the right point that soon the handicapped will be faster than the able bodied. Maybe that will be a good thing for the special olympics.

    By Sledge Hammer , Posted May 16, 2008 5:05 PM

  • This reminds me of the Casey Martin. People feel sympathy and that's fine. But sport has rules that we all have to follow. Otherwise whats the point in playing at all.

    By Hugh , Posted May 16, 2008 7:58 PM

  • You r heartless. Have some compassion. Oscar you r the man

    By roy , Posted May 17, 2008 1:53 PM

  • Come off it, he should be allowed to race. The man is a hero and thats what the olympics are about. The slippery slope argument is moot since the IAAF or IOC can look at each instance on a case by case basis.

    By Perry, NJ , Posted May 18, 2008 10:51 PM

  • @ Roy: Forget compassion! This has to do with racing. Get of his ruggers.
    @ Perry: He is not a hero, he is just a guy with 2 fake legs.

    When did we become so PC that we put those who are the best at what they do down. Life isn't fair sometimes. Get over it.

    By RRRRGghhhhh , Posted May 19, 2008 1:55 PM

  • This is quite an interesting debate. I would let him run but not change any of the rules. Each case will be different and they should look at them all.
    His legs don't give him a metabolic advantage according to the article. I think once someone's protethis does then they should be disqualified.

    By Legal Begal , Posted May 19, 2008 2:13 PM
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