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The Olympics are Coming: A Running Advantage?

Posted on: July 18, 2012

The 2012 London games are right around the corner and much talk is centered on Oscar Pistorius and his alleged “unfair advantage” consisting of prosthesis for his bilateral lower limb amputations.

Oscar Pistorius, age 25, is from South Africa and known as “blade runner” or the “fastest man with no legs.” He will compete in the individual men’s 400 meter and the 4 x 400 meter relay in this year’s Olympic Games set in London. Pistorius is a bilateral below the knee amputee who wears the Cheetah flex foot prostheses by Ossur. He is a world record holder in the Paralympic games and will defend his titles in the 100m, 200m, and 400m races as well.

Much controversy surrounds the use of his prosthetics and are thought (by some) to give Pistorius an unfair advantage. Pistorius wears the same Ossur manufactured blades since 2004 and according to Ossur “have been scientifically proven to not give a net advantage over able-bodied athletes.” The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in 2008 that Oscar Pistorius can legally compete in IAAF athletics races wearing ÖssurFlex-Foot Cheetahs. Great information regarding the findings by the CAS as well as the explanation of biomechanics and energy expenditure can be found here. In his own words, Pistorius states, “They make it sound like I’m the only guy running on this prosthetic leg, when in fact they’ve been made since 1996 and tens of thousands of Paralympic athletes have used the exact same leg that I’m using, and many are using an updated version of the ones I’m using. If this prosthetic leg is such an advantage then why is it that not one other Paralympic athlete has broken 50 seconds on the 400, let alone run a 46 or a 47 seconds, using the exact same prosthetic leg?”

Much of the controversy was outlined in one article reporting that two of the scientists who were involved in the research that led to the decision to allow Pistorius to compete, have now announced that his prostheses “give him a clear and major advantage.” Peter Weyand of Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Matthew Bundle of the University of Wyoming gave a conclusion that was part of a written Point-Counterpoint style debate published online in the Journal of Applied Physiology on Nov. 19, 2009. Their premise was based on the light weight of the prosthesis compared to a sound leg giving him an advantage in leg swing. However this does not address the issue or metabolic expenditure, shorter stride length, force, friction, increased injury rate and so forth.

Regardless of your thoughts on the Cheetah prosthesis, Oscar Pistorius is an amazing athlete who has inspired so many along the way. I am proud of the work that he is doing. He has a winning spirit and incredible determination.

“You are not disabled by the disabilities you have. You are able by the abilities you have.” Oscar Pistorius