"If you think amputation gives hiim an advantage, have the operation yourself and we'll see you at the track."

March 4, 2007 12:17 PM

With the help of Ossur's prosthetic feet, Oscar Pistorius is differently abled. Video. Walk Tall should be the next LiveStrong. (via)
posted by anotherpanacea (7 comments total)

some think it gives him an unfair advantage
posted by fair_game at 12:49 PM on March 4, 2007

In the future, sprinters will have their lower legs, arms, spleen, gall bladder, appendix, and 25 feet of intestine removed to reduce weight.
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:25 PM on March 4, 2007

Joking aside, he's pretty cool.
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:25 PM on March 4, 2007

"If you think amputation gives hiim an advantage, have the operation yourself and we'll see you at the track."

That's just fucking dumb.
posted by Kwantsar at 3:48 PM on March 4, 2007 [1 favorite]

It's what his coaches say to the critics. Apparently the Olympic committee has already approved his participation if he can qualify for 2008. The fact that he hasn't yet gotten his times down far enough to achieve that qualification is a good indication that he doesn't have an advantage. Of course, as an overweight mid-packer with shin splints, I do sometimes fantasize about just chopping the the damn things off.
posted by anotherpanacea at 4:12 PM on March 4, 2007

There was an article about this guy in the latest issue of Wired, as well.
posted by mrbill at 6:45 PM on March 4, 2007

"The fact that he hasn't yet gotten his times down far enough to achieve that qualification is a good indication that he doesn't have an advantage."

no, it just means that the combination of him + his sprinting legs isn't putting in fast enough times... perhaps he'd be running a 12.5 100m if he'd been born with fibulas... if we chopped Asaffa Powell's legs off and gave him these would he be doing 9.5 seconds over 100m? who knows...

but more power to him, say... I'd love to see him qualify for 2008...
posted by russm at 10:39 PM on March 4, 2007