The case of the Blade Runner

[nairiporter]

Amputee sprinter Pistorius to compete against able-bodied runners
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/amputee-sprinter-pistorius-to-compete-against-able-bodied-runners/article2104455/?from=sec431

A man who was born with no bones in his lower legs has won the opportunity to run against – and possibly beat – able-bodied athletes at the track and field world championships.

Oscar Pistorius, the South African amputee sprinter who runs on blade-like prosthetics, dropped almost a half second to run his best time in the 400 metres and qualify for the world track championships in Daegu, South Korea next month.


The debate surrounding Oscar 'Blade Runner' Pistorius
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/14222922.stm


Oscar Pistorius shocked the athletics world this week when he qualified for the World Championships - but should he be allowed to race against his able-bodied rivals?

Comments

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

This looks like a slippery slope. On the one side there's discrimination against disabled people. On the other side, wouldn't those carbon bladders enhance his performance if perfected? It would be like putting an iron prosthesis on the arm of an arm-wrestler, or optics on the eye of a biathlon skier. You see where I'm going?

[nairiporter.livejournal.com]

Yes, with the improvement of these technologies there may come a time when prosthesis would perform better than the body. This should be well thought through.

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

First step to being overtaken by the cyborgs.

Seriously, I'm happy for this guy but I see trouble on the horizon.