Double Amputee Turned Away From Beijing

I would like to go ahead and state that the following article is controversial and I do not mean for it to offend anyone. I am open to discussion and accept all views on this subject. I hope that in stating my feelings and beliefs, anyone reading this will understand my thought process and not take offense to what I write.

The 2008 Olympics are just around the corner, and with only 6 months until the torch run begins, one athlete will begin to fight for his right to enter the Olympics. Oscar Pistorius is a South African sprinter who was banned from the 2008 Olympics this summer. This ban does not come as a surprise; however it has become a controversial topic around the world and in sports. Oscar Pistorius is a double amputee.

I, no matter how hard I look into my heart, have to agree with the track and field’s governing body. It’s simple. Despite being considered handicapped, Oscar is using technologically advance equipment and therefore gaining a competitive edge.

The first point to be made is that he is missing the calf muscle in each of his legs. This may not look to be an advantage, but after a closer look you may understand how it gives him an edge when it comes to training. As a sprinter you run leaning forward on your toes. This position places strain on your calf muscles and leads to soreness while training. As a runner without these muscles he can train harder and longer without going through the soreness and strain. He does not have to work to condition his calves; his conditioning is produce before he puts on the prostheses.

That leads to a second competitive edge. A runner bounces with each step. As he works out and conditions his calves, a runner increases the amount of bounce and the power in each bounce. Oscar Pistorius runs on curved blades called “Cheetahs”. These blades are meant to bend and give with each stride, and provide power comparable to the step of an able-bodied man. The International Association of Athletics Federation has tested the prostheses and has stated that the “Cheetahs” give the wearer a 30 percent advantage over someone who does not wear the blades.

Each of the first two examples can be compared to steroids in other sports. The reasons steroids are illegal in sports are because of the health risks. If you allowed the use of these performance enhancers than every athlete would have to take to drugs in order to compete on a level field. However the health risks are devastating and therefore no athlete can be required to put him or herself in harms way. In Pistorius’ case this would be equivalent to asking sprinter to chop off there legs so they can run with the same 30 percent advantage as a runner with “Cheetahs”.

The final way in which Oscar Pistorius gains an advantage is by the use of aerodynamics.
It is obvious to see that the “Cheetahs” are thinner than an able-bodied runner’s leg. This is not a great advantage but we have all seen the rise of body suits and shaving for swimmer. The principle holds true for a runner as well. The less space you have making contact with the air, the less resistance you must overcome.


Oscar Pistorius gains quite a bit of an advantage over the average runner and therefore should not compete in the Olympics. I wish Oscar the best and all that he does, and I hope he can continue to run and set records at the Paralympics Games. He is a strong man and he holds my utmost respect.