Bladerunner

What exactly is "physically disabled" mean in regard to sports? Does an athlete simply not participate with those who are able-bodied? Or do they have special events devoted to them? Should they be allowed to participate if they desire to compete with "normal" athletes? Oscar Pistorius sure thinks so.

At 21, he is the world’s fastest sprinter with no legs. Pistorius, known as "Bladerunner", was born without fibulas in his lower legs and as a child had both legs amputated below the knees. He refuses to see himself as different, but the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) thinks otherwise. Pistorius races on carbon-fiber prosthetic legs called Cheetahs; they've helped him blow away the competition in the Paralympics, and also caused him to finish second among "normal" runners in a 400 meter race in Rome last year.

Through research, IAAF found that with his cheetahs, Pistorius was able to run at the same speed as able-bodied runners using about 25 percent less energy. Therefore, he was in violation of IAAF Rule 144.2 prohibiting use of technical aids to provide “an advantage over another athlete not using such device” and is banned from competing in the Beijing olympics. Pistorius is filing an appeal to fight the decision, saying in an interview that he "didn't choose to be the way he is"...so why should he be punished for making the best of his situation?

So...the obvious question is whether or not he should be allowed to compete with able-bodied athletes? My gut reaction says yes - give the guy a chance. He's trained for it and it's obvious he's talented. But another part of me is asking: how much of that talent was created by the engineers of his Cheetahs? If he had another brand of prosthetics, would he be as fast? I do think he has an unfair advantage of having the man-made equipment. And it was proved that he exerts less energy than a runner who has full use of his legs. My answer would have to be no, I do not think he should be allowed to compete in Beijing...solely based on the fact that he would be coming into the situation with an advantage.

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