Comments on: "Blade Runner" Barred From Olympics

Double-Amputee Sprinter Told Prosthetic Racing Blades Give Him An Unfair Advantage

[iceman_1960]

"Blade Runner" Barred From Olympics. Double-Amputee Sprinter Told Prosthetic Racing Blades Give Him An Unfair Advantage"

Can"t they just amputate the feet of all the other runners ?

[shanev137]

hilarious. the fastest runner in the world doesn''t have any legs.

[dogsoul]

"Well if this don''''t beat all...a double amptee has an unfair advantage over able bodied atheletes...JUST WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TOO? "

Suppose his aid of choice were... a 1967 Chevy Mustang? Would it be fair to hand him a gold medal then? Fact is that it''s nearly impossible to figure out a way to be fair here... If this guy had normal legs - based on his training & physical makeup - he might just be a schmoe who couldn''t even make it IN the Olympics - but as an amputee fitted with these Cheetah legs he''s blowing everyone away & getting the gold medal??? Come on folks...

Look at it THIS way - the very fact that we CAN design a prosthetic that actually gives an amputee an unfair ADVANTAGE in the Olympics is truly a marvel to behold...

[susanhelit]

He''s handicapped - but that doesn''t mean the rules don''t apply. The thing is - runners with flesh legs use the same ones for everyday work, where he had a set of legs designed specifically and only for this. They can indeed give him an unfair advantage. It''s cool, that they are actually good enough to be an advantage in this one event - I''m sure prosthetic legs versus normal ones in, let''s say, walking through a field are far worse. The blades are designed for nothing but running - not too surprising they can be designed to give an advantage there.

[smagboy1]

Why not use normal prosthetic legs and race? I''m sure the council would allow that. They''re barring him from using springs. I mean, holy ***, I''d be happy to race against Olypians wearing springs instead of knees and ankles. But, if this guy wants to race with the prosthetics he has here (the ones to his right): http://www.cbsnews.com/images/2008/01/14/image3707932.jpg, then, I''m sure the council would allow it. Seriously people, this is a no brainer.

[toolmangler-2009]

I think the Olympics ceased to be a serious and legitimate amature competition long ago when corporate sponsorship took over.
Posted by ralan40 at 12:32 PM : Jan 14, 2008



Sad but true.

[ralan40]

This should come as no surprise, A prosthetic out performing the real thing. Check out eyeglasses capabilities, with the right glasses I can see the craters on the Moon,a really good hearing aid can hear a spider walk. Were this to be allowed, it is conceivable that a few determined individuals might opt to have their lower legs replaced by blades. this would result for awhile in the Olympics being a joke. So don''''t start it to begin with, then you don''''t have to deal with the fallout, later.
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Posted by ToolMangler at 10:03 AM : Jan 14, 2008

You are quite correct but I think the Olympics ceased to be a serious and legitimate amature competition long ago when corporate sponsorship took over.

[missingamerica]

What is the guy trying to do? Get a bunch of able-bodied people to crash the Paralympics?

[random_radar]

If you thought that steroids were bad, wait till you see sprinters get their legs cut off so they can use prosthetic limbs to run faster.

You think I am joking? I guarantee people would do it. If they kill themselves taking steroids, they would cut their limbs off to compete.

Winning is everything--even if it costs you an arm and a leg!

[badfish911]

ya im gonna enter wearing my rollerskates