Should this guy be allowed in the Olympics?
 

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On Friday, an international court of appeals overturned the ban on Oscar competing with his carbon-fiber fake legs in the Olympics, setting right a horrible human wronging:

The watershed ruling made the runner, Oscar Pistorius,
the first amputee to successfully challenge the notion that his carbon-fiber prosthetics gave him an unfair advantage and assured his right to race against able-bodied athletes in the Olympics, should he qualify. Previously barred from competing in such races by track and field’s world governing body, Pistorius will continue to stoke the debate over the competitive issues created by evolving technology in sports.

For anyone to claim that a man who runs on false legs is somehow advantaged over those with real legs is not only the height of hilarity, but also the cause of ongoing immoral human corruption.

I am always amazed how many average people are outraged when non-average people are provided “reasonable accommodation” under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991.

When Marlee Matlin recently appeared on Dancing with the Stars there were some — including the judges — that felt she deserved no reasonable accommodation in the grading of her dancing because “she has to be treated just like everyone else” even though she is profoundly Deaf since birth and cannot hear music.

That sort of mindless cruelty against the disabled — all in the name of a misguided “universal fairness” and a sorry burping of “the spirit of competition” slogan — is disgusting and unnerving, and we all need to support the Oscars and the Marlees of the world who must not only fight against their own disability, but go to war every day against the misguided intentions of a condescending world unfairly set against them.

Carbon-Fiber Legs Racing for Olympic Gold | RelationShaping

Sorry, but I say no. This will start a wave of problems for what/who will be allowed to compete. They ban drugs but allow a man with unnatural limbs to run?

If they have a race specifically for guys with carbon fiber legs, then yes. If he wants to compete with runners with regular legs, the answer is no way.
Where does it stop?
"Oh, it isn't fair I was born so slow, so I should be able to use this motorcycle to compete in the 4000 meter race!"


Along the same lines, is Australia really this pussified?

A picture of a guy holding a gun a enough to get kicked him off the Olympic team? Seriously? If that's representative of the opinions of that country, God Help them.
Rhode Island could kick their butts, as evidenced in their medal count.
Can you imagine the outrage if it came out that he went to a firing range and actually discharged the gun? Oh the horror!

Try having a blind racing driver....I'm sorry, but when it comes to competition, its what yah got. They have special Olympics for people with disabilities btw. One of my friends with a disorder competes in them.

That said, I think they are opening a can of worms here.

I say no as well. In a sprint his legs may or may not provide an unfair benefit. I can easily see some sort of prosthetic leg providing a huge benefit in long distance running because the prosthetic will not tire like the muscles in a natural leg. What happens in a few years when powered limbs are perfected? Nope, definitely should not be competing.

No! Nfw

Another attempt to be PC.

I'm also in the "no" camp... Any kind of prosthetic would disqualify the competitor, as sad as that is... There are competitions for athletes with prosthetics, etc...

Next thing you know people will be getting limbs amputated so they can use prosthetics to improve performance.

No, the carbon fiber attachments lenghtens his legs below the knee more than his natural leg would be, giving him a longer stride than he would have had if he had his own legs.

The carbon fiber attachments also act like springs propelling him forward using his body weight.

If he wants to race he should race with people with the same attachments.

Where would it stop? How about an artificial arm for javelin throwing? I think some artificial arms are quite powerful.

Especially after Tim Allen gets done "rewiring" them.

i applaud him for kicking life in the nads.

but no..he should not be in the olympics. he has a mechanical advantage.

Then we should also allow for the use of these...for basketball, gymnastics, distance running, etc., etc., etc,...

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Randy

No....better faster stronger..

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[QUOTE=sammyg2;6795013]
Along the same lines, is Australia really this pussified?

[QUOTE]

BTW he's frum South Aferca.....so bad on ya, eh....:rolleyes:

Take a breath. No doubt this is an exceptional human being- but persuing a blurry cause. There must be plenty of ways to push his physical exploits- just not this one.
"ongoing immoral human corruption"- really?

I suppose it is similar to having a bicycle in a footrace in that he has a different and better way to harness his energy. On the other hand, he must run using only his thighs, no calves. The carbon fiber spring cannot produce energy, only store and release the energy put into them by his thighs smaking the limb down on the ground. So on that level I can see the argument for it being fair. But I would not say a bicycle is fair.

Good analysis, Max.

But they raved about the chaz bonor freak who was only on because of her mother being cher, and that she had a pecker sewn on:eek: and lets not forget, they let a guy compete in a beauty pageant who had a sex change. When you make exceptions for others like that, kind of opens it up for cases like this..

I see what you did there.

Oi.....that is a recurring nightmare I have, double clip from a train wreck.

Well one way of getting taller, push button ratchet legs so you can adjust your height. 5'10" to 6'6"......you can drive any car w/o having to adjust the seat.

Reckon I'll have to go with the no crowd. I do admire the guy for his guts and determination but this doesn't seem right.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/movies-true-story-behind-dolphin-tale/2011/09/20/gIQAZCFLrK_story.html




You know, when they made the prosthetic tail for Winter the dolphin, they made advances in prosthetic s that made a great deal of difference to disabled humans. What ever that man is doing, he is going to create a world of difference in how we see disabilities, and in how the disabled can perceive themselves, in addition to any way in which his running may help the development of artificial limbs.

And you know it is true. Look at how some of you are implying that some how he is ''advantaged''.

There must be almost a quarter of a million young veterans who have lost limbs in Iraq and Afghanistan. He isn't just running for himself. As I see it, he is running for all of them.

Let him run. And for God's sake, let's get Tiny Tim that operation that he needs too. Oh, wait that would be socialized medicine. Effing Commie Bastiges... Mark my words, someone is going to get some kind of advantage over me. Well... Not on MY dime !

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Nothin 'pussified' down here. Both these guys in the picture have a history of doing things which bring their sport (swimming) into disrepute. One smashes the face of a fellow swimmer at a party, then when he is convicted in a civil case declares himself bankrupt to avoid having to pay the compensation. The other guy claims he is a victim of a hit and run assault, only later confessing he actually fell off his skate board - a complete waste of police time and money investigating a non event.

We don't need idiots on our national team - we have done well in the past without them. As for our medal count in swimming, I think we have done quite well over the years.

Tim

Daniel, lighten up. This is OT, not PARF. The bicycle is a good example. How about a guy with no disabilities putting on a set of those skids for bounce? Where do you draw the line.

OTOH, what about the Olympians who shoot, should they be allowed to use contact lenses or glasses? Its an academic discussion, don't get so wound up.

Based on my experience....both as a track official, starter and athlete (I'm in a local College Hall of Fame).....

His length of stride, gait and style show nothing out of the ordinary that would be called 'enhanced' by his prosthesis. I am going to change my mind.

IF he manages to make a qualification time he should be allowed to compete.

He is simply the best para athlete and he is good enough to compete with the big boys. If his type of 'mod' was so good there would be more of them trying to compete. There aren't.

His mod is like replacement for his natural legs. He probably at the least has more developed thigh muscles.....but that is just extra effort on his part. He was a very good athlete on the old standard F/G legs when he played Rugby.

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I wanted to participate, not compete in a biathlon, just swimming and biking. But since I can't lift my right arm and my right leg is profoundly weak I need a flotation device for the swim. The organizers said no way as they have no provision for such paticipants. I totally get it. He should complete in the paralympics in something called the " prosthetically enhanced division".

[QUOTE=Joe Bob;6795335][QUOTE=sammyg2;6795013]
Along the same lines, is Australia really this pussified?

Who's from SA, leggless? If that's what you mean then that's just great.

Unfortunately I was talking about the guys who are getting kicked off the AUSTRALIAN Olympic team for a picture of them holding guns are from ...............drum roll ......... Austrailia.

musta missed the memo on the reason for the segue and don't see the connection.

Splain this to me Lucy: if both those guys were sooooo bad why were they still on the team?
Why the sudden OUTRAGE because of a facebook picture of them posing with a couple guns in a gun shop?
Does holding a gun = idiot in your world? That's what it sounds like.

Evidently all that other bad behavior wasn't enough to get them kicked off the Olympic team but posing with a gun is.


If people are "OFFENDED" by a picture of two men holding shotguns and a pistol in a California gun shop, then they are pussies. Simple as that.

Now I'd venture to guess that not everyone in the country is offended and so not everyone is a pussy down there, lust like not everyone here lives in frisco or the PNW ;)

Check yer recycle bin, you prolly got my e-mails going straight to delete again.

Can we wrap this sidebar up and get back on topic? :rolleyes:

What happened to common sense? I appreciate the individuals atheletic skills, but get the hell out of the courts. This is an artificial enhanced human powered device. If you permit the ruling, lets then allow a man or woman with no disabilities use artificial mechanised devices to increase results. Seriously, whats the difference? How far where will it go? Assume someday will have levitation or hyper spring soles activated and controlled by our nerves... wouldn't that be considered human powered? Or maybe that will be permitted if you lop off a toe. That guy needs to compete in his own class or go home. How about the Trannies competeing in womans events?

This whole argument by the few with disabilities and lawyers need a rude awakening. They think they're special because they don't have legs. Its ridiculous. They're just another human born into this world like everyone else, live differently like everyone else does, and decay back to nothing like everyone else does. Some just have it better than others... get over it and thats life. Oh yeh' let's harken back to a black man named Jesse Owens at the 36 Olympics in Berlin that Hitler compared him to a Jaguar and not human, but he didn't argue against it.

Have you seen the CBS video interview? It changed my mind when I did. Click on the link above.

Watched it. Wonderful story. Doesn't change my mind or the issue for me.

No. Great story, no doubt a great person.

Odd that the Casey Martin issue may help: The Supreme Court ruled decisively today that Casey Martin, the disabled golfer who has been battling the PGA Tour over its walking rule for the last four years, has the legal right to ride in a golf cart during tournament play.

GOLF - GOLF - Disabled Golfer May Use a Cart On the PGA Tour, Justices Affirm - NYTimes.com

I'm leaning toward "no" on this.

What does a calf/foot/shoe weigh? Does he not end up with a weight advantage over the whole athletes? Like the rotating mass of a wheel affects a car's acceleration, wouldn't he have the ability to take faster strides due to the light weight of the carbon fiber?

If he is allowed to compete, his score should be ..... handicapped.

He's not setting any records, he's barely fast enough to qualify for his 3rd world country's team, he's not likely to medal....he'll simply be footnote in history. Sheesh.....