Sports

Double-Amputee ‘Blade Runner’ Reaches World 400 Semifinals

Double Amputee Blade Runner Oscar Pistorius Reaches World 400 Semifinals

Oscar Pistorius runs past Femi Ogunode of Qatar during the men's 400 metres heats (Reuters)

DAEGU, South Korea (AP) — The double-amputee sprinter known as the “Blade Runner” is steadily stealing Usain Bolt’s stage at the world championships.

Bounding along on his carbon-fiber blades, Oscar Pistorius is proving he indeed belongs on the same track at major meets as able-bodied athletes.

On Sunday, in his opening heat of the 400 meters, the South African finished third in 45.39 seconds to advance to the following day’s semifinals.

Although Bolt clearly remains the face of track, the 24-year-old Pistorius is demonstrating there’s room for more. He never before has competed for a major title and might not even make it to Tuesday’s final, but his story remains an inspiration to many.

Not to mention a contentious topic for others, who think the blades give Pistorius an unfair advantage.

For Pistorius, this was simply a chance to compete against the best. He fought off nerves and tracked Femi Ogunode of Qatar down the back stretch with an impressive burst.

“A big sense of relief,” Pistorius said. “This is a platform where you work extremely hard to get here. Once you get here, you don’t want to let it slide.”

It’s been quite a path to reach this point for Pistorius.

The International Association of Athletics Federations had banned the multi-Paralympic gold medalist from able-bodied competitions, saying the blades he wears gave him an edge.

Double Amputee Blade Runner Oscar Pistorius Reaches World 400 Semifinals

South Africa's Oscar Pistorius gestures after qualifying following a Men's 400m heat at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

In 2008, Pistorius was cleared to compete by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. But he failed to qualify for that year’s Beijing Olympics and then again for the 2009 worlds in Berlin.

Stronger, leaner and more confident, this has been a breakout season for Pistorius. In one of his last races before Daegu, he earned the “A” standard with his best-ever time of 45.07 to earn a place at the worlds.

“Phenomenal race,” Pistorius remembered. “Never had a race where every aspect went extremely well.”

A place in the final might require an even better performance. After all, defending champion LaShawn Merritt hardly looked like he broke a sweat as he cruised to a 44.35 in his heat, the fastest time in 2011.

Pistorius’ blades have been the source of curiosity and controversy, with some wondering if the technology actually aids the runner. Merritt tried to diffuse that notion.

“I‘m not really sure what’s going on with the technology,” said Merritt, the Olympic gold medalist who competed in just his second race since returning from a 21-month doping ban. “I haven’t seen a story on it or went that deep into what the technology is. I just see his times, and that he’s slowly getting better. So I can tell he’s been working.”

Belgian semifinalist Jonathan Borlee said the IAAF could be left in an awkward position should Pistorius make it into the final.

“In that case I think, yeah, it will be a problem for IAAF, for (the) federation who will say, ‘Oh it’s not fair,’” Borlee said.

Others competitors use the presence of Pistorius as a challenge, not wanting to get beat by him. Chris Brown of the Bahamas powered down the home stretch to win the heat involving Pistorius.

“With him being inside the race, automatically everybody steps up,” Brown said. “No one wants to get beat by him. Me definitely, I don’t want to get beat him.”

Pistorius was born without fibulas and had both legs amputated just below the knee when he was only 11 months old. He uses prosthetic blades made of the carbon-fiber material to compete, leading to his nickname and constant questions.

Pistorius’ manager, Peet Van Zyl, dismisses such assertions that it provides him a benefit.

“We’re going to focus on running,” Van Zyl said. “That’s it, that’s our focus.”

Some believe the blades could present a danger if they hit someone. So despite allowing him to compete, the IAAF said it made an agreement with the South African federation that Pistorius would only be allowed to run the leadoff leg of the 4×400 relay, which is still in lanes before the event turns into a pack race.

“I think that’s a good decision” Borlee said. “For security, I think it’s much better to have him in the first leg because, you know, if you get hit by his blades we can have serious injuries.”

With the qualifying standards for the 2012 London Games expected to be similar, Pistorius could very well become the first amputee sprinter in track and field at the Olympics.

That would truly make him a trailblazer, and the mention of that made him almost squirm.

“There are Paralympic athletes that do exactly what I do every day, train just as hard,” Pistorius said. “I’m very proud to be part of that movement. The Paralympics have taught me a lot.

“I really don’t feel like a pioneer, but I‘m very honored to be in the position I’m in.”

Comments (91)

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  • earthbonz
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 1:16pm

    Unfair advantage? I hear a great deal of speculation on here about lesser weight and body parts, requiring blood. All true. To be fair, though, what is gained by these attributes are also lost in the additional muscles that provide propulsion and balance. You really have to consider the mechanics of the human body, from the knees-down.
    Is it a fair race if the runners have varying leg lengths, weight, bone structure, etc.? Gets a little silly, don’t you think? I would race him and graciously lose or win.

    Report Post » earthbonz  
    • robert
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 1:53pm

      I’d be hard-pressed to to come up with a reason as to why these artificial lower legs might be considered an advantage.

      If this guy were bouncing on springs that would increase his stride due to a propulsion forward it would be one thing, but as Earthbonz pointed out above, the loss of muscle power seems to me to be a disadvantage that isn’t compensated for by the artificial limbs.

      Report Post »  
    • pscully17
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 3:05pm

      in the photos, you see that both the SPRINGS are off the ground, in a Bounding motion…I would say thats a thrust advantage.. moreover, the International Athletic associations go out of their way to test every athlete for foreign substances and performance enhancing drugs, etc…. so I have to wonder, why would they allow a man with 2 unnatural, performance enhancing springs to compete? I dont think they should.. its kind of contradictory to the hole NATURAL competitive standards they should adhere to.

      Report Post »  
    • pscully17
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 3:16pm

      Also, what are the odds that this guy, born healthy with both legs, would be a sprinter of International Caliber …. Im guessing NOT, I personally have never known a world class sprinter, does anybody here know any? they are pretty rare.. so I can only assume, that even though he doesnt win every race by 40 yards, without the technology of the springs, he wouldnt have come close to qualifying…

      Report Post »  
    • pscully17
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 3:27pm

      But, after re-reading the article, he did have to go to court and win a lwasuit to allow him to compete.. so the IAAF has to abide by a ruling… and disregard its initial policies that did not allow him to compete.. which is sad, because now you have an arbitrary ruling that doesnt take FAIRNESS to all competitors into consideration, it only looked at the issue through sympethetic eyes, and saw that somebody wasnt allowed into an event, as a victim…which hurts the integrity of the sport..

      Report Post »  
    • Banned on the Blaze
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 4:03pm

      Had to add, go go gadget legs!

      Report Post »  
    • earthbonz
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 4:11pm

      Pscully: in the photos, you see that both the SPRINGS are off the ground, in a Bounding motion…I would say thats a thrust advantage.

      That’s an inane statement. Both FEET are off the ground, with every stride of a runner. Does that mean they are “Bounding”?

      Report Post » earthbonz  
    • Bruce
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 5:09pm

      Having an artificial limb myself may give me a leg up on this opinion page. Yes he has to compensate with upper leg muscles but how much bouncy bounce does he get with those springs on his feet. This is an apples and oranges race. How fast is he against other enhanced runners with the same running tools? This will always be the debate when you compare man to machine. I emotionally applaud him for the effort, but logic does not allow me to compare his ability to a natural legged person.

      Report Post » Bruce  
    • feralmonkey4
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 7:31pm

      Obviously Pscully17 didn’t watch the video he was running just like every other person there not “bounding” at all. and let him compete he has the drive that few people have.

      Report Post »  
    • VoteBushIn12
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 11:01pm

      It is an advantage. Can a swimmer cut his feet off and replace them with fins? No! It’s a huge advantage, everyone can see that. I swam competitively all through college and I can promise you if I cut my lower leg off and replaced it with a fin I would break world records.

      This is the same thing. It’s tragic that he has had to live without legs, but the truth is he is at an advantage with these things. He has less weight to lug around, doesn’t waste oxygen on lower leg muscles, and yes they provide propulsion. In the same way a trampoline helps you jump higher these things bend, flex, and rebound.

      Life isn’t fair. Are you going to give a shorter person stilts to play in the NBA because his lot in life made him short? Or someone with scoliosis gets to wear shoulder pads in a Rugby match because they otherwise wouldn’t be able to compete? No. Sometimes you gotta play with the hand you‘re dealt and if you can’t then be happy with the slot machines.

      Report Post » VoteBushIn12  
    • earthbonz
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 11:38pm

      Votebushin12: I can promise you if I cut my lower leg off and replaced it with a fin I would break world records.

      Promises are like farts in the wind. Not much weight.

      Report Post » earthbonz  
    • Anteraan
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 11:44pm

      I love this topic, as my background is a Masters of Science in Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics. The extra propulsion he gets from the elasticity of the blades will more than compensate for the loss of calf muscles, which is all he’s really missing. I mean, if you want to throw in intrinsic foot and toe musculature, you can, but their contribution is minor. The more important muscles in sprinting are the glutes, hip flexors, and hamstrings, all of which he has. The CAS is a joke in scientific circles, so I’m not surprised they decided as they did.

      Report Post »  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 1:09am

      Is it an incredible story about goals, determination and perseverance in overcoming obstacles, and the ability to compete at that level ?
      Absolutely !!!
      Is it a story about an unfair advantage due to the nature of the design, and composites of the prosthesis?
      You bet your @ss !!!

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • Charlie Justice
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 7:15am

      When a man without legs has the attitude that he can compete and win in a foot race then I can say with certainty that he has an advantage over every single person he encounters. God bless him.

      Report Post » Charlie Justice  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 10:52am

      he just set a new world record in the high jump. JK :p

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • earthbonz
      Posted on August 30, 2011 at 12:43pm

      Anterraan: my background is a Masters of Science in Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics.

      Wow! You are exceptionally brilliant. All that scientific deduction from a few pictures and a video. Very impressive….no, not really. Just another opinion.

      Report Post » earthbonz  
    • Wingnut80
      Posted on August 30, 2011 at 3:21pm

      Noone can know if it is an advantage until a world class runner has his legs amputated and uses the blade system. And one individual isn’t a representative sample anyway. What were his times pre-amputation? Doesn’t have any, then how can you state with certainty that he gains no advantage? Do you wait till its proven down the road that it is an advantage and then have to invalidate every race that he or other blade runners in the future compete in? Also, where do you draw the line?

      Report Post »  
  • Woo
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 1:12pm

    He got dealt a bad hand at birth but that doesn’t mean the world should turn a blind eye to cheating.

    Report Post »  
    • Vasbyt
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 1:53pm

      If he was American you would aplaud him.

      Report Post » Vasbyt  
    • Woo
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 2:44pm

      You might. However, I’d say the same thing I said earlier.

      Report Post »  
  • kalayaan
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 1:08pm

    Wow!!! this is cool…keep it up, man…

    Report Post »  
  • dadsrootbeer
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:43pm

    It’s great he can compete. But isn’t this giving him some kind of advantage. Looks like it springs him forward. Doesn’t look fair to me.

    Report Post » dadsrootbeer  
  • Parnell3rd
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:28pm

    Would yall like some cheese to go with the wine? If the athlelte was any color but white, the media and IAAF would not even be talking about this.

    Report Post » Parnell3rd  
  • sWampy
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:24pm

    It’s sports, the whole purpose of sports is the teach how to cheat, why make a big deal about someone actually cheating, are people so dumb they don’t understand what sports are all about?

    Report Post »  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:18pm

    Not to mention the cardio aspects of pumping less blood, thus better oxygenation for the longer distances. Show up in a 10k or a marathon might be extremely unfair. Start the cyber Olympics and see how many uninjured show up wanting to compete. Planet Earth is a miraculous place..

    Report Post » Ghandi was a Republican  
  • SIXFRIGATES
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:18pm

    It is a great story but the fact is that, ironically it is an unfair advantage. The extra spring, the lighter weight, the lack of fatiguing feet and calf muscles… I feel bad about what happened to him but it is not an even playing field.

    You can say, well cut your own legs off… It doesn’t matter, it is not fair to the other competitors.

    Report Post » SIXFRIGATES  
    • M 4 Colt
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 7:05pm

      Six, you say that he has an unfair advantage i might agree if he were running against non world class runners but he is running against the worlds best runners now if they are afraid to compete with a guy with “springs” on his legs that says alot about them.

      Here he is with only haft his legs and he is able to run within 1 second of the best in the world and he was born this way, i for one am happy for him. If you have someone in your family with a handicap like i do, you would be applauding him because are we not supposed to try and include the handicapped into everything the rest of the world does and not look at them as handicapped?

      So what is it to be, do we include them into sports with “whole” athletics or do we still keep them separate in their “own special Olympics” so what’s it to be?

      Report Post »  
  • drattastic
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:13pm

    I guess we can all speculate about an unfair advantage but would one “whole” competitor trade places with this guy ? I think we know the answer to that don’t we.

    Report Post » drattastic  
  • vtxphantom
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:06pm

    He should at least be required to carry the extra weight he would have for his amputated limbs.

    Report Post »  
    • Midwest Blonde
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:57pm

      You think prosthetics are weightless? They’re not! I’ll bet those things weigh almost as much as the flesh and blood he lost.

      Report Post » Midwest Blonde  
    • M 4 Colt
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 6:17pm

      midwest what you said X 1

      Report Post »  
  • el thinko
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:04pm

    If you believe this is an “unfair advantage,” you can always even it up with a sawzall and a pair of your own blades! There is NO POSSIBLE WAY to ever resolve this issue scientifically or otherwise.
    Even volunteering to become an amputee would not resolve the infinite number of variables needed to be accounted for in putting this issue to rest. My personal opinion? Who cares. I think this guy AND his competitors are all awe inspiring and humbling. Run baby, run!

    Report Post » el thinko  
    • rockstone
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:15pm

      “There is NO POSSIBLE WAY to ever resolve this issue scientifically or otherwise.”

      Yes. Yes there is. You can have a race with “blade runners” and a race for non “blade runners”

      You have Indy car races, you have NASCAR. You have the WNBA and the NBA. And, while they may have a friendly exhibition now and then, they never meet in a sanctioned event for all the marbles.

      Or would you prefer to see the Green Bay Packers play the Lingerie League Champions in the Super Bowl next year?

      Report Post » rockstone  
    • el thinko
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:23pm

      Oh, I stand corrected. Thanks for clearing up the issue of wether blades are, or are not an advantage.
      Are you comparing bladerunner to the lingerie league? For real? WOW! You humble me.

      Report Post » el thinko  
    • rockstone
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:45pm

      “WOW! You humble me.”

      Thanks (blushing) but, it really wasn’t that tough. As any child can plainly see, a double amputee running with blades is not the same as a person running with full, intact legs. Care to argue that it is? It won’t be tough to humble you there either.

      Report Post » rockstone  
    • el thinko
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:48pm

      I think you need a special section for your comments. Your in a special league all your own!

      Report Post » el thinko  
    • el thinko
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 5:30pm

      Rocksmoker
      Any child will notice that no two runners are the same, anywhere, ever, enhanced or not. Your asute observations have absolutely nothing to do with my point, as any child who can read will notice.

      Report Post » el thinko  
    • rockstone
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 7:29pm

      I guess I really got inside of your head there ET. You keep coming back for more. Fine. But hey… let’s call a truce. If you want to look out there and visualize that it’s all on in the same… far be it from me to wake you from your nap.

      Have a great evening!
      :-) ta-ta

      Report Post » rockstone  
    • mrbuff1959
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 1:21am

      el thinko , you have my voye for sect. tres. of the known universe.

      Report Post » mrbuff1959  
  • jeffile
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 11:43am

    This guy is to be admired but shouldn’t be allowed to compete. This is no different than that fellow who had a problem walking and wanted a waiver to allow him to use a golf cart during a golf tournament while all other players had to walk the entire course.

    Report Post »  
  • Bill Rowland
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 11:20am

    This guy is a HERO not the stupid Geraldo imitators (did you see him in the rain this morning?) who go out in the rain and wind and do stupid things.

    Report Post »  
    • mrfunn
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:12pm

      Sorry, you pushed one of my buttons.
      A soldier running out onto the battle field, with bullets whizzing past him, to save another soldier is a hero.
      I don’t see anything heroic here. Unless, that is, you have watched CNN’s Heroes or what ever they call it.

      The overuse of the word hero has distorted it’s true meaning.

      Report Post »  
  • Pyronaught
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 11:18am

    Rather than sitting around speculating about weather or not the blades create an unfair advantage, someone needs to do an actual study on it to verify. My suspicion is that any advantage created by extra spring is offset by the disadvantage of not having as much control over them as one does a foot.

    Report Post »  
    • PASSIONFORCHRIST
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:16pm

      You are absolutely right. But THESE ARE HIS LEGS! HE’S HAD THEM SINCE HE WAS A CHILD, THEY ARE PART OF HIS BODY THAT HE LEARNED HOW TO HOLD HIS BODY UP(ASK HOW WOBBLE YOU WERE WHEN YOU STARTED WALKING) , RUN IN, WALK, JUMP, SKIP ETC.. I’M SURE TO HIM THESE ARE HIS LEGS!!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
  • SacredHonor1776
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 11:08am

    Look like the technology used in those new robo-suits the military are making for soldiers, or seen in Portal games.

    Report Post »  
  • ronaldreaganthegreat
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 11:08am

    Very inspirational!!!!!

    Keep on runnin brother:-)

    Report Post » ronaldreaganthegreat  
  • flevan
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 10:55am

    Those blades are a LOT more efficient at transferring energy than human ankles.
    Good for him, but it isn’t a fair race.

    Report Post »  
  • macpappy
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 10:55am

    That is cool. the marriage of the human sprite and technology are opening up new frontiers, and new pioneers.
    I doubt there is an advantage to wearing the blades. That curved piece of high tech doodad is not the human foot, and cannot duplicate the minute corrections a foot does per second.

    Report Post » macpappy  
    • Rowgue
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 11:16am

      You can doubt it all you like, it’s been proven definitively that the blades give a competitive advantage. They provide a significant mechanical advantage and at the same time are about a thousandth of the weight of a person with actual legs.

      They have taken several people who never ran competitively a day in their lives previous to being outfitted with blades and had them turning times on par with top level college sprinters after a few practice sessions.

      It’s a nice story, but he is not the one with the handicap in that race.

      Report Post »  
    • el thinko
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 12:16pm

      @ Rogue
      People who had never run a day in their lives volunteered to have their legs amputated? Holy Crap!!! I’d like to see that evidence! Of course, all other variables in this study were accounted for as well, I assume. SHOW ME THE LINK!!!!!!!

      Report Post » el thinko  
    • M 4 Colt
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 12:04am

      Rowgue, i would like you to provide links to back up your statements that blades were given to regular people and in a short time they were running as fast as top runners in their field. Not that i don’t believe you but i want the link just not hear say from you that they ran that fast.

      Report Post »  
  • mrfunn
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 10:50am

    .
    What is next?
    Robotic assisted athletes to compete fairly with “whole” humans?

    Report Post »  
  • salvawhoray
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 10:45am

    I don’t think its a fair race with the others.
    This guy has a little more spring in his steps then the others.

    Report Post » salvawhoray  
  • Tear Em Up
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 10:44am

    I‘m surprised one of the losers isn’t crying over an unfair advantage. I bet the liberals are already planning on how to put him in “special games”. They just love to “level the playing field”….

    http://traffic.libsyn.com/mikeleeandterrymartin/Number_78_August_27th_2011.mp3

    Report Post » Tear Em Up  
  • johnnycatt
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 10:39am

    it’s like I tell my kids… Sports is 90% heart and 10% courage… the body will do whatever you tell it to do….

    Report Post »  
  • wildbill_b
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 10:34am

    Kat Williams has a great skit on this issue of “unfair advantage”.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qlNEmpxQxI

    Peace

    Report Post »  
  • KangarooJack
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 10:30am

    What an inspiration!

    Report Post » KangarooJack  
    • for-what-its-worth
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 11:01am

      @ KANGAROOJACK
      Posted on August 28, 2011 at 10:30am
      What an inspiration!
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      Yes it’s inspiring (and I won’t take that away from him), but fair? Maybe not so much.

      He has a much better chance of outlasting his opponents due to him having far fewer human body parts (muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc) in a crucial area of a runner’s body…his lower legs. He basically has pre-molded springs for his lower legs that would give him an advantage (no tiring, no cramping, no pulling, etc) over the other runners.

      I don’t see other runners being so agreeable with this as the technology is advanced and perfected, and the “blade runners” start winning everything.

      Just my opinion as an athlete.

      Report Post » for-what-its-worth  
    • M 4 Colt
      Posted on August 29, 2011 at 12:45am

      For what it’s worth, since you state that you are a runner too then i am sure you can understand that it takes more then just “blades” to reach the level of competition that this man is running at. He is running within 1 second of the top runners in the world, that takes more then just blades, that takes training skill and he has to have the natural ability to compete at that level to.

      Even if you were to take a so so runner and provide them with a pair of blades it’s going to take more then the blades to get him to the level of a world class runner like this man. According to your point of view it all comes down to just adding the blades and you have a world class runner i disagree, to complete at this level it takes more then just equipment.

      If what your saying was true and it’s just an equipment thing then all you would need to do to make someone a winning NASCAR driver would be to take a winning driver out of a late model stock car (same kind of circle driving only done on a dirt track) and put him into a grand national stock car and with this new equipment he would be able to drive up front with the fastest drivers on the track, well I’ve got news for you, both may be just driving race cars but it’s going to take alot more then just the best race car to make a winning drive at this level of competition.

      Just like this man it takes alot more then equipment (blades) to win at this level of competition it takes skill, training , lots of heart and the will t

      Report Post »  
  • Vechorik
    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 10:18am

    Wow, how empowering and delightful! If the other non-amputee runners want to wear blades, they can. LOL Great stuff!

    Report Post »  
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