Olympic runner with no legs.

[Dave Gray]

I feel like a dick when I admit this, but as great of a story as this is, I don't think he should be allowed to compete.  Even if he doesn't have an advantage now (where he can run indefinitely without tiring out his calves, for example, he will one day.

I mean, you're competing in a sport that primarily uses your legs, and you don't have legs.  He has to use less oxygen to pump blood to his extremities and he doesn't fatigue the same.

It's a great story and his ability to overcome adversity is great and inspiring and all that...but at some point, you have to draw a line.  The Olympics is, at its heart, a sports competition that tries to be totally fair.  The human interest part is a nice addition, but you have to make rules that are fair for everyone, and I think bionic limbs are too far.

Even if this guy doesn't have an advantage (he probably doesn't), there is a time coming soon where artificial limbs will make you faster that those without them.

Seems like you'd just nip this in the bud now...

[TonyB0D]

Yeah I was thinking the same exact thing today....it's just ludicrous they would allow him to compete with other normal athletes.  I guess they just threw science out the window on that ruling.

[Brian Fein]

I thought the same thing, until he finished dead-ass last (not including the guy that limped home with a pulled hamstring) in the semifinals.

I thought that having springs for feet would allow him longer strides, as well as the lack of ankle fatigue and calf muscle pain.

But I bet he'd give up all that to have his legs back.

[suck for luck]

Agree 100% with Dave & Tony.

Edit to add: Except the dick part

[mecadonzilla]

I feel largely the same, and I'm glad that others feel he shouldn't have competed either.  There are too many differences in his physiology to allow him to compete with the other able-bodied runners.

That said, I'm happy that he at least got his day in the spotlight and advanced a heat before bowing out.

[masterfins]

I agree with Dave, he is a dick to admit to this. C'mon the guys got no legs.  I think this goes to people's fears of losing to a guy with no legs.  As for the "bionics" comment, when Steve Austin shows up to a meet you'll have a valid point.

[suck for luck]

C'mon the guys got no legs.

Sports

Life

not the same thing.

[Brian Fein]

I would just like to know what science was conducted by the IOC to prove that its not an advantage.  If they did their study and placed there are requirements on artificial legs that prevent an advantage, then fine, go for it.  But I haven't heard of or seen that addressed anywhere.

[bsmooth]

I would just like to know what science was conducted by the IOC to prove that its not an advantage.  If they did their study and placed there are requirements on artificial legs that prevent an advantage, then fine, go for it.  But I haven't heard of or seen that addressed anywhere.

Here is a great article on it. On paper he has a mechanical advantage based on leg swing, but he has a huge disadvantage leaving the blocks and getting going. Of course races are usually won coming out of the blocks.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/olympics/2012/writers/david_epstein/08/03/oscar-pistorius-london-olympics/index.html

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I don't think he should be able to compete. Even if the current tech doesn't give him an advanage, at somepoint the race will be between Steve Austin and Jaime Sommers squeezing out the real runners. 

OTOH, I fully support Casey Martin using a cart in golf.

[Phishfan]

Unrelated but also controversial. What do you guys think of the runner who had a sex change being able to compete as a woman?

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Unrelated but also controversial. What do you guys think of the runner who had a sex change being able to compete as a woman?

Opposed. 

But I don't think that has actually happened. 

[Phishfan]

I mixed up a couple stories in my head. I saw a thing about the South African runner today (the one that has been subject to gender testing), but I was talking while it was on. I remembered a couple years ago that the IOC had made a ruling about sex changes and I thought they were related. I guess not after I just read up on her story.

[EKnight]

If none of the other athletes opposed it, no one else should have jack to say. The guys he's competing with are OK with it, so all the sofa-keyboard warriors should be as well. -EK

[mecadonzilla]

He's also competing in the para-Olympics.  Sounds like BS to me.  Either he's handicapped or he is not.  He shouldn't have it both ways.