Should this guy be allowed in the Olympics?

[URY914]

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

[URY914]

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?

[sammyg2]

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!

Australian Olympic swimmers criticized for Facebook gun photo
By Chris Chase Thu, Jun 7, 2012 11:45 AM EDT


Two members of the Australian Olympic swim team are under fire for posing with three guns and posting the photo on Facebook.

Swimming Australia demanded Kenrick Monk take down the picture of him and Nick D'Arcy in a California gun shop. He complied.

In the picture, Monk held pump action shotguns that resemble those used in the Port Arthur massacre of 1996, an incident which still stands as one of Australia's deadliest shootings. D'Arcy held a semi-automatic pistol.

The Sydney Daily Telegraph was among the Aussie newspapers to question the decision of the young men. On its Twitter account, the newspaper asked, "Are you offended by this photograph of Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk in a US gun shop?"


The two young men need no introduction to stupidity. D'Arcy was involved in a brawl on the night the 2008 Australian Olympic team was announced and broke the jaw, nose, eye socket and cheekbone of a teammate. He was kicked off the team but avoided jail for the incident.

The lawyer of the man he punched was surprisingly surprised at D'Arcy's current brush with infamy. "I can't believe it," Sam Macedone told The Age. "Despite all the criticism, he still does things that are stupid."

Monk broke his elbow last September and blamed it on a hit-and-run driver. Four days after filing a police report, he confessed that he had actually fallen off his skateboard. Police didn't charge Monk, calling him a "wannabe B-grade celebrity athlete."

"It was all just meant to be a bit of fun, the photos were just a bit of fun," D'Arcy told reporters upon his return to Australia on Friday. "If anyone's been offended I deeply apologize. It was never the intent, it was never supposed to be offensive."

There are reports that the Australian Olympic Committee could keep both swimmers off the team for the "foolish" action that was "clearly inappropriate for members of the 2012 Australian Olympic team."

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by URY914

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.

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.

[masraum]

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.

[widgeon13]

No! Nfw

Another attempt to be PC.

[azasadny]

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...

[widgeon13]

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

[GWN7]

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.

[Hugh R]

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

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

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.

[vash]

i applaud him for kicking life in the nads.

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

[rcecale]

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



Randy

[targa911S]

No....better faster stronger..

[Joe Bob]

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

[QUOTE]

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

[oilcan]

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?

[Flieger]

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.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Flieger

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.

[Racerbvd]

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.

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 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..

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

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

I see what you did there.