Amputee runner wins right to try for Olympic spot

[JMR58]

Your missing my point on the "lower leg" problems...as the study showed, he experiences less energy loss; the prosethetics loss 9.3% vs 41.4%. Superior energy return; the prosthetics because they are so stiff produce three more times energy return than a human ankle. Equal speed less energy; He can run the same speed as able bodied using 25% less qxygen due to the energy return. Less fatigue; the mass of the prosthetic is 2.2 lbs which is 13 to 17 lbs lighter than the human leg. Also, he doesn't have to worry about pulling an acheiles, twisting an ankle, or any other injury to the lower extremities...again, a distinct advantage. Again the story is a great story but he shouldn't be allowed to run against able-bodied athletes because the technology gives him a distinct advantage.

[Dat Boi E]

[GrandPa]

I can just see the OB-GYN giving the parents the news in the delivery room.

"I've got some good news and some bad news.............................................. .................................................. ..

The good news is he won't ever have to worry about lower leg problems.

Whew, must have been a relief to the parents.

[jneutron]

This guy was a great track and field star before he lost his legs.So what would you do if you were him.Put yourself in his shoes"no pun intended" would you just give up or would it drive you to do something no one has ever done.The thing i like about him was when the ruling came down he said ,"THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE" AND THE THING THAT GOT MY ATTENTION BY SAYING THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR EVERYONE THAT IS HANDICAPPED .LET THE GUY RUN HE WONT WIN A MEDAL HIS GOLD MEDAL IS JUST MAKING THE OLYMPICS AND BEING THERE AND WALKING DURING THE OPENING CEROMONIES

he was 11 months old when he had his lower legs removed...not a great track and field star! He should have to chose which olympics he will run in, and since it was ruled he can compete in the able bodied one then he should not race in the paralympics

[JMR58]

Grandpa; we're talking about rather or not his prosethic is a "technological" advantage...not telling new parents that their child has a physical deformity. Totally different subjects. Also, rather you like it or not, he doesn't have to worry about injuries to the lower extremities as able bodied runners do. We're not saying that he's lucky to be an amputee...but independent studies have shown that the cheetah's give him a distinct advantage....para-olympics were formed for athletes just like him. If he is given a spot on the relay team (since he doesn't need a qualifing time) he would be taking the spot away from an able-bodied runner.

[GrandPa]

For the record < I agree with everything you said.

Except I thought it a curious choice of words, saying he didn't have to worry about certain things.

I would gladly accept my legs as is rather than the alternative of not having them. That's all.

[flarendep1]

IMO, he should not be allowed to compete. Just as athletes are banned for artifical supplements, so should these artifical limbs.

[frankb03]

It's all a moot point. It was much ado about nothing. He failed to make the olympics.