Your opinion: Oscar Pistorius (the blade runner) in the Olympics

[Marked 197]

Oscar Pistorius is a South African 400m meter who is currently competing the London 2012 Olympics. However Oscar is a double amputee and runs using artificial legs

 

He formally ran in the paralymics but was given the go ahead to compete with normal athletes in the Olympics. I believe this was on the basis that the blades do not give him any advantage in running.

 

What's you're opinion on this?

-should Oscar be allowed to compete with normal athletes in the Olympics?

-is this fair or not on the other athletes?

-is it possible to tell whether or not the blades are an advantage? The 400m is a sprint, and medals are won on fractions on a second

 

Hopefully some of you guys are interested in the Olympics :P Any events left that you guys are looking forward to?

[ForeverZer0 44]

That's a very good question, and frankly, I have a hard time coming up with any type of definitive opinion on the matter. The fact that he is an amputee is no matter, and should not be. If I remember correctly, there is a young woman on the table tennis team (I don't remember which country) who has an arm amputated. She obviously uses the other arm to play, so there isn't really any issue that can be made of that.

 

This particular case begs the obvious question: Are the artificial legs an advantage?

I see no way that this can be truly confirmed nor denied, which is the cause of my indecision on making an opinion.

 

I will say this much: I am against allowing under the premise of "look what he has overcome, give him a chance...". An unfair advantage is an unfair advantage, and has nothing to do with what happened in a person's life to get them their.

 

That being said, and if it was my decision to make, I would probably allow it. There is no real evidence to suggest that he has an advantage. The artificial limbs do not appear to give him extra "bounce", and they certainly don't make his thighs pump any faster. I am confident that the issue was thoroughly investigated by the Olympic committee, and the decision was not made lightly to permit it.

Edited August 5, 2012 by ForeverZer0

[deathmoverz24 2]

I've never hear of him but what can i say is if people will start thinking of advantage, i will never hesitate to say that theres a disadvantages too.

To list it off:

 

Advantage: less pain, less fatigue, less effort

Disadvantage: less force, less reach, less coordination.

 

Its really hard to say that its an advantage or not. That specific event is made for "normal" runners and it completely concerns on what he is lacking in physical aspect. Anyway Im looking forward to him. What is the schedule? Anyone? I am also waiting for Cycling Bmx, Water polo, Taekwondo and Equestrian., And is Curling also included in? I also want to watch that because theres a lot of chicks participating in that kind of game.

Edited August 5, 2012 by deathmoverz24

[Wyzrd 12]

I could type a lenghty reply up to this. But to really sum it up. I agree with ForeverZer0.