Blade Runner

Oscar Pistorius, the South African, is the carbon fiber legged man. Can his dream of competing with the valids in Beijing become reality?

On May 16th, the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sports) allowed the 21 year old sprinter to compete with valids and over ruled the IAAF verdict.

Nown the athlete has to make it to the Olympics. He has to make the 400 meters in the time of 45s 85, when his personnal record is 46 s46.
Born without calf bone, Oscar was ambuted below the knee at the age of 11 months. He learnt walking on prothesis. In the 2004 Games, he was crown 200meters olympic champion. In 2007 he finished second of the South African 400 meters national championship with the valids and made public his desire to compete in Beijing.
The IAAF turned his demand down. A inquiry was made by professor Gert-Peter Brüggemann. His conclusion was that the prothesis, called “Cheetah”, on which Oscar was running was producing energy. The sprinter went to court against the IAAF. Later, another conclusion by professor Hugh M. Herr from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) said that it did not give Oscar any advantages.
The CAS considered that the IAAF did not have any proof that the biomechanical effects from the use of the prothesis did give Oscar any kind of advantages over others.
Last week, Oscar Pistorius was ecstatic. It was a great day for sports and people.
Even if he has little chance to make the Games indivudualy, he can hope to make it with the South African 4 x 400 relay, if the country qualifies. Oscar Pistorius will for sure participate to the Paralympics Games from Sept. 6th to 17th, also in the Chinese capital.