@Turnbaby – It is awesome isn’t it? Way cool. What a message it sends. Never give up hope.

@Keven – Yep. Let technology catch up. And then judge the bionic man. Not when he is running on sticks.

@Saffer – We gonna fight? His legs offer no advantage. Different from saying that your legs offer an advantage over those with no legs. He is at a disadvantage. All they had to prove was that he has no advantage. But your legs prove you have an advantage.

@Saffer – He won’t go if he doesn’t qualify. They made that clear. He must still qualify like anyone else. But still what a story if he makes the time though.

SA Athletics and the Olympic selectors often leave out people who QUALIFY for events, those that run qualifying times, make qualifying distance throws etc etc (SA mens hockey anyone?) since they know there is little chance of a medal being won and it is too expensive to send a large team.

Since Oscar has never run the minimum qualifying time should there even be any discussion over sending him? He will end up going, all for the PR and media attention when realistically yes, he will not win any medals.

Sure the guy is an inspiration and an incredible athlete. This story pulls on the heart strings though, so logic seems to go out the window in my opinion.

With him possibly going to the Olympics as say an alternate on the 1600m relay team he would be taking the spot of an able bodied athlete, someone who has dreamed of competing in the Olympics all his life, is that fair on the able bodied athlete? At least Oscar can compete in the Paralymics.

If his blades offer no advantage then do my 2 legs offer no advantage over the other athletes at the Paralympics? Can I go compete in the 100m there since my best time ever would be enough to win me the gold?

I honestly think though that as technology gets a grip on the idea of a high performance artifical leg, many of the difficulties this guy faces might dissappear.

At that point, there will have to be a revisitation of that issue, but for now, yeah, let him run!

They are hypocritical bastards–look at what their ilk did to Jim Thorpe.

Anyone with any common sense about running–be it horse or man KNOWS that ‘swinging’ ones’ legs to make the circuit is not efficient at all.

Plus he must go slower on the turns because his ‘feet’ do not have the stable flexibility of the natural human ankle and foot.

I love it that he can compete.

I think he is overcoming a LOT to do it–there’s no way it’s an advantage.

Thank you for posting this and the link.