Double Amputee Sprinter Cleared for Take-Off to Beijing

Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee 400m sprinter, has won his bid to compete in the 2008 Olympic games – if he qualifies. His best in the one lap dash is nearly a second off the required 45.55 sec for the ‘A’ standard. He was previously banned from participation by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), but won an appeal compliments of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Pistorius, a South African who was born without fibulae in both legs, has raised some interesting issues the Olympic board will surely have to address in the future. Some speculate that, because he has no calf muscles that require more oxygen and energy to use, the sprinter actually has an advantage. This begs the question: Is he disabled or too-abled?

Watch the video of the fastest man with no legs. The 21-year-old can haul ass. Though it’s unlikely sprinters will be running out to have their legs amputated so they can gain an advantage (as weird as that sounds), it’s clear we’re in an age where technology is putting its huge footprint onto the playing field. To wit: check out the swim suits this year. Speedo’s new body suite is shaving seconds off swimmers’ times.

Image: dailymail.com