Two Legs Up on the Competition
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Who could have foreseen this predicament?
After decades of trying to improve life for disabled athletes, of giving them their own competitions, we've finally reached the point where our "help" has become too good.
The International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) continued its quest to exclude double-amputee Oscar Pistorius from Olympic competition in 2008, announcing that his prosthetic legs provide less air resistance than "normal" legs.
In March, the IAAF released a ruling that excludes runners with artificial help from competition. Though they insisted the ruling wasn't aimed at Pistorius, the IAAF certainly laid the groundwork for keeping the legless sensation from mainstream competition.
Pistorius, a South African who was born without fibulas, has been a double-amputee since infancy. He started running in 2003, and quickly became known as the "fastest man on no legs" and "Blade Runner."
Everybody ate it up, until his times began to approach those established by able-bodied individuals.
It pains me to say it, but Pistorius' detractors -- the ones who call his disability an unfair advantage -- are right. Pistorius and his coach have countered that additional factors should be taken into consideration, but the truth is that he is a different kind of athlete.
As technology continues to improve, we approach a tipping point. Whether Pistorius has an advantage over flesh-legged runners at this moment in time is up for debate, but you can be certain that he will eventually.
The time is near (and may be here already) when human engineering of prosthetic limbs surpasses the natural capabilities of the human body. The IAAF sees the writing on the wall and is doing its best to prepare for an inevitable firestorm.
When the IAAF says no to Pistorius' bid for the Beijing Olympics, it will be a very unpopular decision.
But it will be the right one.
This article is also posted at All on the Field sports blog.
