January 16, 2008--Going for the Gold
This should be an easy one—
Oscar Pistorius is 21 and was born without fibulas in both of his legs. When he was 11 months old, he had both legs amputated below the knee. He learned to use artificial legs with considerable ease, all things considered; and about six years ago, fitted with Cheetahs (carbon fiber prosthetics shaped like the letter J), he began competitive sprinting. Within four years he set Paralympic world records at 100, 200, and 400 meters.
As if this is not extraordinary and inspiring enough, he now wants to be allowed to compete in the regular Olympics this summer in Beijing. He wants to try out for South Africa’s team and if he makes it wants to compete against so-called able-bodied athletes.
But the International Association of Athletics Federation, track and field governing body, has rejected his request, claiming, this too is extraordinary, that if he were allowed to he would have a competitive advantage. They cite the results of the tests performed on him, at the IAAF’s request, at the German Sport University. There it was determined that the Cheetahs (no pun intended in how they are named) were more efficient than a human ankle. In fact, they return energy to runners. It was determined that the prosthetics are about 30 percent more efficient than a “normal” human leg.
So even though Oscar Pistorius has not yet reached the automatic Olympic qualifying time for the 400 meters event (45.55 seconds), he will not be allowed to try out for the team or compete in China. (See linked NY Times article.)
How to think about this. If the Cheetahs do provide an advantage, what is so different about using them than, say, cheating with steroids or human growth hormone? A then applying this standard, regardless of how we feel about him in our hearts, not allowing Pistorius to compete?
On the other hand, there have been so many technological improvements in all sports (zipped-up golf clubs, high-torque tennis rackets, livened-up baseballs, high-tech running shoes, and even artificially-doctored track surfaces), why ban the Cheetahs? I suspect that versions of them could be developed for wear by runners who have not had their legs amputated. That would keep the playing field level.
Further, we have so over-sanctified, nationalized, and commercialized the Olympics, turning them into a version of a global ritual that has quasi-cultural and even religious aspects (with anthems; oaths; and strict, almost commandment-like codes for off-the-field behavior) that I think it might be time to ratchet some of this back, loosen up, and put some of the fun and sport back into the games.
If we could overcome our obsession with medal-counts and focus on individual achievement, wouldn’t it be wonderful to send a message to the world that overcoming adversity, working hard, and dreaming about what might be is more important than endlessly reporting about how many gold medals Germany has in comparison to France.
Oscar Pistorius is 21 and was born without fibulas in both of his legs. When he was 11 months old, he had both legs amputated below the knee. He learned to use artificial legs with considerable ease, all things considered; and about six years ago, fitted with Cheetahs (carbon fiber prosthetics shaped like the letter J), he began competitive sprinting. Within four years he set Paralympic world records at 100, 200, and 400 meters.
As if this is not extraordinary and inspiring enough, he now wants to be allowed to compete in the regular Olympics this summer in Beijing. He wants to try out for South Africa’s team and if he makes it wants to compete against so-called able-bodied athletes.
But the International Association of Athletics Federation, track and field governing body, has rejected his request, claiming, this too is extraordinary, that if he were allowed to he would have a competitive advantage. They cite the results of the tests performed on him, at the IAAF’s request, at the German Sport University. There it was determined that the Cheetahs (no pun intended in how they are named) were more efficient than a human ankle. In fact, they return energy to runners. It was determined that the prosthetics are about 30 percent more efficient than a “normal” human leg.
So even though Oscar Pistorius has not yet reached the automatic Olympic qualifying time for the 400 meters event (45.55 seconds), he will not be allowed to try out for the team or compete in China. (See linked NY Times article.)
How to think about this. If the Cheetahs do provide an advantage, what is so different about using them than, say, cheating with steroids or human growth hormone? A then applying this standard, regardless of how we feel about him in our hearts, not allowing Pistorius to compete?
On the other hand, there have been so many technological improvements in all sports (zipped-up golf clubs, high-torque tennis rackets, livened-up baseballs, high-tech running shoes, and even artificially-doctored track surfaces), why ban the Cheetahs? I suspect that versions of them could be developed for wear by runners who have not had their legs amputated. That would keep the playing field level.
Further, we have so over-sanctified, nationalized, and commercialized the Olympics, turning them into a version of a global ritual that has quasi-cultural and even religious aspects (with anthems; oaths; and strict, almost commandment-like codes for off-the-field behavior) that I think it might be time to ratchet some of this back, loosen up, and put some of the fun and sport back into the games.
If we could overcome our obsession with medal-counts and focus on individual achievement, wouldn’t it be wonderful to send a message to the world that overcoming adversity, working hard, and dreaming about what might be is more important than endlessly reporting about how many gold medals Germany has in comparison to France.
posted by Steven Zwerling at
10:07 AM
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