Double-Amputee Cleared To Compete In Beijing Olympics

[asgardshill]

As off-topic as off-topic can get on Ron Paul Forums, but a story I have been following closely for personal reasons. Indulge me, please.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24665015/

Double amputee ruled eligible for Beijing
S. African Pistorius wins appeal against IAAF over fiber prosthetic blades

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius won his appeal Friday and can compete for a place in the Beijing Olympics.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the 21-year-old South African is eligible to race against able-bodied athletes, overturning a ban imposed by the International Association of Athletics Federations.

CAS said the unanimous ruling goes into effect immediately.

 

[yongrel]

Whoa, very cool.

It would be awesome to see him dominate.

 

[amy31416]

That is fantastic! Can't wait to see it.

 

[asgardshill]

Whoa, very cool.

It would be awesome to see him dominate.

Pistorius is about a full second off of Olympic qualifying time right now in his preferred events, but a lot of that can be chalked up to having to cool his "heels" in hearing halls fighting IAAF obstinacy and politics instead of training. He'll get better and faster, and a little birdie tells me that we'll hear from him in Beijing and certainly in London in '12.

After I finished reading this on the wire this AM, I plunked down enough for a deposit on a plane ticket and a track and field ticket package (including the 400m indiv final) in Beijing. A small price to pay for IMO the most compelling human interest story in sport since Jackie Robinson. And I'll be blessed to be there to see it in person.

(sniff)

(Now I just have to brush up on my lousy Mandarin)

 

[yongrel]

Pistorius is about a full second off of Olympic qualifying time right now in his preferred events, but a lot of that can be chalked up to having to cool his "heels" in hearing halls fighting IAAF obstinacy and politics instead of training. He'll get better and faster, and a little birdie tells me that we'll hear from him in Beijing and certainly in London in '12.

After I finished reading this on the wire this AM, I plunked down enough for a deposit on a plane ticket and a track and field ticket package (including the 400m indiv final) in Beijing. A small price to pay for IMO the most compelling human interest story in sport since Jackie Robinson. And I'll be blessed to be there to see it in person.

(sniff)

(Now I just have to brush up on my lousy Mandarin)

I assume you have some sort of personal investment in this? Ya know him?

 

[asgardshill]

I assume you have some sort of personal investment in this? Ya know him?

Yes to both. Although my "blessing" is not as noticeable as Pistorius', I have several parts and pieces in my left leg that aren't factory-original

 

[amy31416]

Yes to both. Although my "blessing" is not as noticeable as Pistorius', I have several parts and pieces in my left leg that aren't factory-original

Amazing. I hope he gets to focus on qualifying and kicks some ass.

Off-topic or not, this is interesting, I hope you'll keep us up to date!

 

[asgardshill]

Amazing. I hope he gets to focus on qualifying and kicks some ass.

Off-topic or not, this is interesting, I hope you'll keep us up to date!

Its been hard to see the screen or concentrate this morning, but I'll do my best. (One of my neighbors called and asked if I was being murdered or something due to the screams she was hearing right after this story hit the wire).

 

[Mitt Romneys sideburns]

I dont like where this is going.

As prosthetic technology keeps advancing, what do we do when prosthetics start giving people advantages over people with real limbs?

 

[Chester Copperpot]

I dont like where this is going.

As prosthetic technology keeps advancing, what do we do when prosthetics start giving people advantages over people with real limbs?

Ive heard these sort of prostetics already give people advantages...

 

[phixion]

This just isn't right, at all.

Pete

 

[iflyboats]

I'm a huge track fan and have been following Pistorius' career since 2004.

My informed opinion is that he does NOT have a net advantage, and therefore should be allowed to compete. In the even that it were to be proven conclusively that he does have a net advantage, I would support a ban against him. I want the IAAF to make a correct decision and not a PC one.

It hardly matters anyway, because even if he's allowed to compete at the Olympics, he's just going to get eliminated in the preliminaries. He's certainly in no danger of winning a medal.