The International Olympic Committee has thoroughly investigated and found that he has no advantage whatsoever.

 

 

GO OSCAR!!!

 

Give me a link.

I started a thread about this in the Other Pro Sports forum. Didn't know you had one already.

 

I say no. He can't get a calf cramp or a sprained ankle as was mentioned so that is an advantage I don't care how fast or slow he is. Isn't there some Disability Olympics he can go run in?

Great story, but no from me as well. There is no way to know how much is natural speed and how much is technology.

While not 100% consensus this article details the advantages that Mr Pistorious gains due to the Cheetah Flex-Feet.

 

Key: He is off the ground for less time than elite runners and his leg swing time is less than elite runners. A quote from the article is "His limbs are 20% lighter and he swings them 20% faster." This is key. This allows him to overcome a disadvantage that he has. He can leave his foot in contact with the ground longer which overcomes the disadvantage.

 

Another disadvantage is that he has to start in a standing position. However, one expert said that even factoring that in Pistorius "is still seven seconds faster over 400 meters than he would be if his limbs functioned as intact biological legs do." "The technology is enabling him to do something that nobody else can do. that's the definition of an advantage."

 

Does Oscar Pistorius have an unfair advantage? Answer unclear - David Epstein - SI.com

The International Olympic Committee has thoroughly investigated and found that he has no advantage whatsoever. And this man is not a cyborg; he's a human being. He shouldn't be criticized because he has found a way to overcome his disability and compete on an even ground with athletes that don't have to face the same disadvantages.

 

 

GO OSCAR!!!

 

I completely agree

Did he even run before he lost his legs?

Did he even run before he lost his legs?

 

Linked article says he lost them when was 11 months old.

If it is such an advantage where are all of the other amputees? Wouldn't it be more common if it was such an advantage.

 

I am sure he would take real legs in a heartbeat and not ever race again.

If it is such an advantage where are all of the other amputees? Wouldn't it be more common if it was such an advantage.

 

I am sure he would take real legs in a heartbeat and not ever race again.

 

No one is saying you can take a non-athletic double-amputee, slap some Cheetah's on his legs, and suddenly he's world class.

 

Oscar's spirit is nothing short of amazing and his ability to overcome is a movie in waiting.

 

He's a great athlete whose net effect of using technology to overcome his amputation is positive which is the point I'm making. He has an overall advantage.

No one is saying you can take a non-athletic double-amputee, slap some Cheetah's on his legs, and suddenly he's world class.

 

Oscar's spirit is nothing short of amazing and his ability to overcome is a movie in waiting.

 

He's a great athlete whose net effect of using technology to overcome his amputation is positive which is the point I'm making. He has an overall advantage.

 

 

 

I don't see how he has an advantage. That has got to be tough to be able to do what he is doing. If it was that easy or he had an advantage then there would be others.

I don't see how he has an advantage. That has got to be tough to be able to do what he is doing. If it was that easy or he had an advantage then there would be others.

 

Go back and read the link I provided. It explains it better than I can.

Go back and read the link I provided. It explains it better than I can.

 

From the 1st post?

From the 1st post?

 

#19

The light weight of the Cheetah legs and the extra contact time with the ground give Pistorius a clear advantage. But the prostheses also have drawbacks. Pistorius is slower at the start than his competitors are. Without ankles, he has to stand straight up out of the blocks and start bouncing to build momentum. And the flexibility of the Cheetah legs has a disadvantage.

 

Read more: Does Oscar Pistorius have an unfair advantage? Answer unclear - David Epstein - SI.com

 

It is not all positive wearing those blades.

The light weight of the Cheetah legs and the extra contact time with the ground give Pistorius a clear advantage. But the prostheses also have drawbacks. Pistorius is slower at the start than his competitors are. Without ankles, he has to stand straight up out of the blocks and start bouncing to build momentum. And the flexibility of the Cheetah legs has a disadvantage.

 

Read more: Does Oscar Pistorius have an unfair advantage? Answer unclear - David Epstein - SI.com

 

It is not all positive wearing those blades.

 

I posted that already AND posted the subsequent quote that says despite that start disadvantage he is still gaining an overall advantage.