Comments on: Oscar Pistorius – the Double Amputee “Blade Runner” – Will Compete in the 400 Meters at the Olympics

By: montyking

montyking — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 05:43:13 +0000

Yes, his lower legs can fatigue and break at anytime. He gets tons of blisters to make up for shin splints. And he can break an ankle..that’s for sure.

By: Monster is Meth

Monster is Meth — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 02:20:37 +0000

I guess you can make a case for each side. Many reasons why to or not to. So fuck it, like gfunk said, I don’t have a horse in this race.

By: gfunk supreme

gfunk supreme — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 02:12:03 +0000

1) It does not appear that Pistorious’s prosthetics provide any competitive advantage, and as closely as possible approximate real legs.
2) It is easy to imagine prosthetics that do provide a competitive advantage, whether by producing better springs, reducing shin splints, whatever.

In general I am in favor of allowing people with disabilities to participate in the Olympics if: a) they can meet the qualifying standards, and b) they do not get any competitive advantage from whatever prosthetics they have. I think there is basically only a positive effect with respect to inspiring those with disabilities (most of whom will never have the money to afford these sort of prosthetics).

That said it’s easy to imagine prosthetics that do provide a competitive advantage at some point in the future. And I don’t really trust the “World Court of Sport” to determine whether and when people with disabilities should compete. They’ve made their decision in this case and that’s fine. But I find it very hard to imagine a runner with prosthetic legs winning a gold medal and not feeling like the competition is somewhat cheapened.

Then again I don’t have a horse in this race.

By: scripty

scripty — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 01:32:35 +0000

Here’s how I look at it… can he get shin splints? does his lower legs fatigue? can he twist an ankle? alright then.

There are a variety of things he was to deal with another runner doesn’t. You’re really trying to find reason’s to exclude this guy. Pathetic.

Assuming an athlete obsessed with winning decided to amputate his legs and use the same prosthetic to run would he be allowed to run? the answer i’m guessing is no.
If he could make the time, YES. It has nothing to do with WHO it is.

By: Monster is Meth

Monster is Meth — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 19:06:55 +0000

Here’s how I look at it… can he get shin splints? does his lower legs fatigue? can he twist an ankle? alright then.

That’s actually a really good fucking point

By: got_em_looking

got_em_looking — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 06:30:16 +0000

Here’s how I look at it… can he get shin splints? does his lower legs fatigue? can he twist an ankle? alright then.

For a sport that goes to extremes to ensure a level playing field its tough to make an objective case that a level playing field exists in this case.

Another way to look at it is this and yes I know its an extreme but its still illustrative. Assuming an athlete obsessed with winning decided to amputate his legs and use the same prosthetic to run would he be allowed to run? the answer i’m guessing is no.

The lesson here is that decision to let him run doesn’t stand on objective grounds but instead colored by the human interest story that comes with it.

By: Walking Underwear

Walking Underwear — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 04:11:45 +0000

this inspires about the same debate as the NCAA champion wrestler with no legs from 2011. advantage or disadvantage?

By: Walking Underwear

Walking Underwear — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 04:10:38 +0000

Professor Reggie Edgertonfantastic for this story

By: kodijack

kodijack — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 02:42:58 +0000

He has had more than twenty years to adapt to not having legs. He doesn’t even remember having feet. He barely made the standard, he is not going to place well, and this is a waste of time.

By: Monster is Meth

Monster is Meth — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 01:46:29 +0000

You’re an idiot. HE HAS NO FUCKING LEGS. It’s been studied, the fact that they MIGHT help him is offset by the fact THEY ARE ARTIFICIAL AND HIS BODY HAS TO ADJUST FOR NOT HAVING ANY FUCKING LEGS.

Exactly. He doesn’t have two legs up on the competition. He’s gonna have to put his best feet forward if he expects to walk away a winner of this race.

By: scripty

scripty — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 00:20:14 +0000

You’re an idiot. HE HAS NO FUCKING LEGS. It’s been studied, the fact that they MIGHT help him is offset by the fact THEY ARE ARTIFICIAL AND HIS BODY HAS TO ADJUST FOR NOT HAVING ANY FUCKING LEGS.

By: blackdog

blackdog — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 00:16:15 +0000

Not feelin’ it.

http://shoeuntied.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/man-with-carbon-fiber-legs-to-compete-in-the-london-olympics-hold-on-a-second/

By: Monster is Meth

Monster is Meth — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 19:50:35 +0000

Fuck milk. Got legs?

By: gfunk supreme

gfunk supreme — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 19:46:54 +0000

Well I just mean it appears that he’s not actually getting an advantage from it. I think it’s pretty easy to imagine a hypothetical runner in the future with prosthetic legs that do provide a serious advantage, which would defeat the purpose of the competition.

By: scripty

scripty — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 19:40:14 +0000

I would feel differently about it if he were a favorite to win (or if somehow he does win). But yeah I agree that for right now I think it’s cool he gets to compete.

Kind of a cowardly position. Okay to let the cripple in as long as he doesn’t cause any waves? World Court of Sport has ruled he can play a long time ago. If he wins, (not likely at all), so be it.

By: Jason Lisk

Jason Lisk — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 19:34:06 +0000

You didn’t link to the Sydney Morning Herald piece. I was just talking about this yesterday with someone and I do think I would feel differently about it if he were a favorite to win (or if somehow he does win). But yeah I agree that for right now I think it’s cool he gets to compete.

Added it in.

By: gfunk supreme

gfunk supreme — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 19:23:01 +0000