Are "Cheetah Blades" Cheating?
South African Oscar Pistorius (aka, "Blade Runner"), 20, is currently (and I stress the word, currently) an athletics sensation -- holder of world records in the 100m, 200m, and 400m events. However...up until three years ago, Pistorius had never even stepped foot on a track! After all, he is a double amputee (his legs were removed at the age of 1).
Pistorius is now one of a handful of runners around the globe who could make the Olympic qualifying time - he is less than a second away.
According to Sports by Brooks, Pistorius was allowed to compete last month at the South African national track championships - and finished 2nd in the sprints competition. Thus, he has a legitimate chance to make the South African '08 Olympic team.
BBC News has gone on to say that "the world body governing athletics, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), has already moved to block Pistorius from the Olympics, with a new rule banning technical aids."
...ok, is this a joke?? Pistorius obviously should not be able to compete in any normal Olympic events. Yes, Pistorius is an AMAZING story...in-and-of itself. That's where this story should end (he has beaten all odds and has overcome more adversity than any of us will probably ever be able to even fantasize). With that said, who knows how much of a benefit these "cheetahs" (another word for the so-called, "blades") are? Sh*t, Pistorius had NEVER stepped foot on a track before 3 years ago -- and, now he's in position to potentially qualify for the Olympics?!? Call me crazy, but these cheetahs/blades are far more unfair than any dose of steroids.
Pistorius claims, "I train harder than any of the other guys do. I put in more hours. I eat better. I sleep better. I rest better and, overall, I am more diligent." No offense, Oscar...but, aren't these attributes assumed?? I mean...obviously, you're going to "rest" better when you can't stand up!
In closing...if Pistorius is allowed to qualify for the Olympics and does, indeed, qualify...then, I assure you that I will be chopping Simply Suds' legs off in the coming weeks (while he is in his regular blackout stage).
4 comments:
for once, i completely agree with Chieftain. The only way he could compete and have it be 100% fair is if everybody in the race that these so called 'blades'. I mean, this guy doesn't have to deal with pulled/strained calves, high cankle sprains, or athletes foot! i'm calling foul. that being said, i'm all for chopping off Simply Sud's legs. This could be the break of a lifetime for him. Who among us wouldn't enjoy watching simply suds motor around a track, tripping the people in front of him. Not only that but I feel like Suds was born to be involved in some type of big-time sports rivalry.
holla
I couldn't DISagree more.
Firstly, the comment regarding him never having put foot on a field is completely uncalled for - the man was born without the use of his feet and they were surgically removed!
Secondly, where will this end - would you say that an athlete with a state-of-the-art hearing aid might hear the gun go off before the other runners or perhaps that an athlete with a new medical heart enhancing device (I'm sure this is coming) would have an unfair advantage due to potentially more efficient blood circulation and oxygen flow.
Oscar Pistorius is a brave man who has overcome significant hurdles, the likes of which many able-bodied will probably never have to.
Let the man compete, and good on him for his perseverance.
yusuf moolla, of course this is an unfair advantage. Oh by the way, I would think it unfair if I knew an athlete had better than normal hearing or better oyxgen flow because of a manmade device or even genectically enhanced body parts. If it's not natural and a athlete most use it to compete then we as a society provide a place for such athletes to compete, you may know it as the Special Olympics. You wouldn't find it fair to put a normal track runner in these Olympics if he was wearing an Ipod playing Metallica just so he would be impeared so it would in theory even the playing field, would you. Didn't think so.
So according to you logic any one in a wheel chair is cheating,any one who has on the special swimmers that all the swimers wear,any one that is using all the special equiptment that the sooters and archey equiptment uses (maybe that should just chuck the bullets themsielf)and hell by that lojic any one with clothes on cheating. Watch one of these races thay ALL use blades usually just on one foot.
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