This has been a pretty big story, bigger than just "sports", because it brings into question what exactly is an individual being.

In case you havn't heard, A sprinter who has no legs wants to race in the olympics. He is one of, if not THE, fastest man in the world. Here is a picture:

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/07_01/pistoriusMS0707_468x523.jpg

As you can see, his legs end around the upper knee, and he has what are called "Cheetah Blades" which propel him. He was recently denied by the olympics and is planning on filing a lawsuit.

A study has shown that these blades give this guy an almost 30% advantage because of the force and spring they give when the guy presses down. Running is mostly in the legs, and while he would have to have muscular and heavily trained quads and hamstrings to be able to run that fast, there are more to those two muscles in running. The front shin bone, the arch in the foot, the calf muscle, even the tendons in the ankle are all things that need to be conditioned for sprinting. This guy doesn't have to do any of that. Plus he has some good old fashioned spring whiplash effect from these blades that give him an advantage.

People in support of him are citing that it is prejudice against disabled people.. but come on. What is next, a swimmer with no legs and has giant flippers to propel him faster than the human foot could ever? We don't want machines running races, we want conditioned, clean athletes. It's a pity this guy has this condition, but if you have no legs, you shouldn't be in the business of running. Just like if you are mentally retarded, you shouldn't be performing a quadruple bypass.

I'm short, stout, I have my advantages and disadvantages. While I have a textbook, technical shot, I know I won't ever make it in basketball because I am only 5'9". So, I play basketball for fun, but don't sue because it's prejudice against short people.

I don't know, what do you guys think?

I agree with you here.

[quote=Decka]A study has shown that these blades give this guy an almost 30% advantage because of the force and spring they give when the guy presses down. quote]

If that study is indisputable then there is no question that this man cannot run in the Olympics. If performance enhancing drugs are banned from the Olympics,that i would imagine that performance enhancing prosthetics should be banned as well. Sorry thats how i feel.

How 'bout they hold a special SPECIAL olympics for people with prosthetics? Then they could argue about who had the best performing leg...

In answer to your question... no, I don't think they should be allowed to compete in the regular olympics.

He should be allowed to run in the Olympics but only if he wears old fashioned prosthetic legs that look exactly the same as human legs, you know, the ones with a thigh, calf, ankle and foot. What he has now are not prosthetic legs but spring boards.

This seems like a no brainer to me. He should be excluded....it looks like he has a bit of extra assistance there. Olympic sprinters should not become more competative based on upgrades to their mechanical legs.

He should be allowed to run in the Olympics but only if he wears old fashioned prosthetic legs that look exactly the same as human legs, you know, the ones with a thigh, calf, ankle and foot. What he has now are not prosthetic legs but spring boards.
Well those old fashioned prosthetics might give him a disadvantage. I think that they would be very unwieldy and guarantee that he could not run as fast as someone with real legs. I bet they do make prosthetics that are somewhere in between though - that wouldn't give him a significant advantage or disadvantage. Of course figuring that out would take a lot of effort, and he should just compete with others with prosthetic legs.

Well those old fashioned prosthetics might give him a disadvantage.
ROTFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!! Ya think!?!?!? I'm crying right now. I couldn't even make it past this first line....

ROTFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!! Ya think!?!?!? I'm crying right now. I couldn't even make it past this first line....
:lolhit: Well, I'm glad I could brighten up someone's day.

I lost both my vocal cords to cancer. Should I be allowed to enter the American Idol singing contest using a tape recording of Pavarotti?

:lolhit: Well, I'm glad I could brighten up someone's day.
Rest assured, it did! :D

I lost both my vocal cords to cancer. Should I be allowed to enter the American Idol singing contest using a tape recording of Pavarotti?
Exactly. Speaking of which, isn't this what the "special" Olympics are for?

Exactly. Speaking of which, isn't this what the "special" Olympics are for?

While the original intent may have been to include all those with disabilities, the Special Olympics have become more of a showcase for those with mental disabilities.

Hell, they let Marion Jones race with Steroids or whatever it was, why can't a man with fake legs do the same....and at least have the potential to keep his medals?

I lost both my vocal cords to cancer. Should I be allowed to enter the American Idol singing contest using a tape recording of Pavarotti? That would be an improvement over many of their contestants!!!

Exactly. Speaking of which, isn't this what the "special" Olympics are for?

Careful, Prae, you're mixing up people with physical disabilities and mental disabilities. Understandably, people with physical disabilities resent this.

People in support of him are citing that it is prejudice against disabled people.. but come on. What is next, a swimmer with no legs and has giant flippers to propel him faster than the human foot could ever? We don't want machines running races..............what do you guys think?

I think you're right. And you make a good analogy with the handicapped swimmer with the giant flippers.

I agree with you 100%.

The fact that this guy would even be considered to have a credible legal case is a bit scary.

It is glaringly apparent why it would be unfair to allow him to compete.

Originally Posted by DarkFantasy96
Well those old fashioned prosthetics might give him a disadvantage.

ROTFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!! Ya think!?!?!? I'm crying right now...

LOLOL.

Yeah....that was hilarious.

:lolhit:

Careful, Prae, you're mixing up people with physical disabilities and mental disabilities. Understandably, people with physical disabilities resent this.
I thought the Special Olympics were originally for people with all kinds of disabilities. Actually I thought they still were... don't they have wheelchair basketball and stuff like that?

I think this guy has already won a gold medal in the para-olympics (or something like that).

And no, he should not be allows to compete in the "regular" olympics.... well maybe in cycling..... or rythmic gymnastics! (boingggg...boinggggg)

OK, that was bad, I apologise.

I thought the Special Olympics were originally for people with all kinds of disabilities. Actually I thought they still were... don't they have wheelchair basketball and stuff like that?
That's what I thought....::shrugs::

They had a great Family Guy episode on that very thing.

I thought the Special Olympics were originally for people with all kinds of disabilities. Actually I thought they still were... don't they have wheelchair basketball and stuff like that?

"Special Olympics is an international nonprofit organization* dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition."

http://www.specialolympics.org/Special+Olympics+Public+Website/English/About_Us/default.htm

To put it crudely, Special Olympics is for retards.

There's a good documentary out there called "Murderball" about wheelchair rugby. It addresses this very issue at one point. Besides that, it's an entertaining flick.

Then where do the handys compete? I know they have something similar.

Then where do the handys compete? I know they have something similar.

The Paraolympics.

Well, that's logical enough, I guess. Hey....I wonder why there's no Quadraolympics? The 50-meter tongue push sounds interesting.

Okay...that was bad, I know. :D

if this guy gets in.. i'm gonna just chop my shins off and replace them with racing wheels and have a built in engine in my shin.... I'll win tons of cash running 7.95 110m dashes.

if this guy gets in....i'm gonna just chop my shins off...

Ok.

I've changed my mind.

Now I want this guy to get in.

lolololol............

Just kidding.

Decka in a wheelchair....whatta concept. I'm picturing a kid (sorry, Decka, I know you're not a kid, but try as I might, I simply can't shake the mental image) with mussed hair wearing a WWE tee-shirt who draws analogies all the time - like, even when he's ordering food at Dennys. Lo and behold, the 16-year-old waitress finds herself appalled at how basic and inane they are, and kicker is, she can't leave or he'll complain to the manager about poor service. You see, he's a regular there, and he does this every time he orders. What she doesn't know is, that in 15 years, it'll be a campfire story she tells her kids on Halloween.

To put it crudely, Special Olympics is for retards.


Yeah...let's not put it crudely.

One of our long-standing members here has a mentally handicapped son.

Yeah... that's a word I try not to use... that and the N word are basically the only ones.

Yeah... that's a word I try not to use... that and the N word are basically the only ones.
That's true. With regards to the former, I've always used it like kids do on the playground; i.e., as a mark of someone doing something incredibly stupid. I've never once meant to disparage mentally handicapped children. Sometimes, using it seemed so apropos when you found yourself talking to a person who clearly didn't "get it".

The 'N' word was big in high school - we used to call someone that when they'd skip out on a meal tab, litter, or fail a test.