I missed the thread when it was new, but reading it now, the study confirms what I expected. The point that I was going to raise until I noticed how old the discussion was is that having no lower legs not only reduces his weight, but also that the prosthetics are half a leg each that consumes no energy from the body (and therefore allows that energy to be used to power other muscles) and cannot get fatigued like a normal leg.

Honestly, I would have been shocked to hear anything beyond what the board said. The conventional wisdom on the track boards I lurk was that there was little real chance for inclusion.

Glad to hear it.

Not only do I agree with the decision from a performance perspective, but I think the can of worms it would have opened would have been further detrimental to the issues that plague the Olympics and its already waning popularity.

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/426069

So, Pistorius has been given the go ahead to try out for the Olympic team by the Sports abitration court.

I don't agree - especially as concerns the relay where, given the running start, he actually has an advantage.

Agreed. The relay's going to be a very jaded affair.

I don't get it. Didn't they find that - scientifically - the "Cheetahs" give him an advantage? His acceleration pattern is completely different to that of an able-bodied athlete.

What were their reasons for overturning the IAAF's decision?

More here.

Be shocked. :expressionless:

Nice try healer. I'm still not shocked. He's getting in under a technicality (the relay). He's a full second off the provisional qualifier for the individual event, and there's no team from South Africa qualified - yet. We'll see if they do, but I personally have my doubts looking at who the potentials are. It's a weak team, IMO (M 400M that is, not the entire SA team).

It's too bad this guy, who has not really qualified yet, gets more ink for the controvery of his prostethic than Natalie Du Toit, who has qualified in her event DESPITE missing a leg and without any artifical aids. And she actually has a solid medal shot.

That's because track is sexier. :)

If you think Asafa Powell is cute, who am I to judge?

:lol:

Amen, brother.

Jazz, it's not so much the fact that he doesn't really stand a chance. It's the fact that they've now set a precedent. They needed to draw a line and they didn't.

I believe that his principles i.e. you have to compete against the best in order to become the best, are good. But I can't see how they could've allowed this blatant unfair advantage.

As Pistorius himself told the Times of London last year:‘Would I want my legs back? I’d have to sit down and think about it’

seems a little cheeky to me...

The latest tests are saying he can enter...

I think its a shame he gets all the buzz... I wouldnt criticise him personally cos he is following his dream and what else can he do but back himself... but a paraolympic swimmer qualified for the main Olympics a couple of weeks ago (Natalie Du Toit), without any artificial limbs... and no one prolly has ever heard of her.