Cybord Athlete (Amputee) to compete in normal Olympics?
Sounds like a tabloid newspaper heading, but it’s kind of true.
The athlete they are talking about is Oscar Pistorius. He’s a double amputee with special leg extensions which allow him to run (and different ones to walk day to day).
Other Relevant articles:
- Double-amputee to compete in Norwich Union Grand Prix 400m @ ESPN
- Why ‘Blade Runner’ has sport on edge of a moral dilemma @ Scotsman
According to Wikipedia the record for 400m Mens is 43.18 seconds.
Oscar Pistorius record is 46.56 seconds.
I think that’s pretty fast.
So the dilemma is whether his “shoes” give him an unfair advantage. From the ESPN article:
Pistorius was given permission to race in able-bodied races by the International Association of Athletics Federations last month but still faces a struggle to take the step up to Olympic level amid claims the curved blades he runs on create an unfair advantage.
Who would have thought that an amputee with special running shoes might have an advantage?
( Via Cyborg runner set to compete against able-bodied athletes @ Sentient Developments )