Paralympic gold-medalist strives for Olympic history
Posted January 22nd, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Kevin McGinn
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Oscar Pistorius, a paralympic gold-medalist, is fighting his way to an enormous personal and historical victory. With a mere three-second improvement he will surpass his own world record (47.3 seconds in the 400m) and get a step closer to qualifying for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. If Pistorius succeeds, he could become the first handicapped-athlete to ever compete in the able-bodied Olympics.
Pistorius was born with a condition afflicting his legs; rendering him without bone mass from both the knees down. This condition left him no choice but to have both of his legs amputated; a surgery that took place when he was only eleven-months old.
Although he began his track career just a few, short few years ago, Pistorius has already become quite an accomplished athlete; setting para-athletic world records in the 100m (11.16 sec), 200m (21.97), and 400m length events.
Pistorius is quite optimistic about his chances of achieving his next dream and qualifying for the Olympics; a feat that appears to be rather attainable.
Assuming everything works out, Pistorius will make his way into the upcoming Olympics. To qualify Oscar needs a 400m time of 45-seconds and approval by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and Athletics South Africa (ASA). If, however, the intense training schedule ahead of Pistorius does not allow for triumph and inclusion in the event in Beijing, Ampie Louw, his coach, plans on organizing an exhibition race including some of the fastest runners in the world.
Louw is trying hard to create an opportunity for Pistorius to change his moniker of “the fastest thing on no legs” to “the fastest thing on Earth”. Pistorius hopes to become the fastest human with or without legs.
Despite his many achievements, Pistorius is not without his critics. There are many within, and also outside of, para-athletics that don’t approve of what he is doing. Although he does not plan to cease his competition in the Paralympics, some claim that he is being disloyal to the contest. Others claim that his expensive carbon-fiber “blades” (which cost nearly $70,000 and are paid for by his sponsor, Ossur) give him an unfair advantage.
Ossur prosthetics are also used by Rudy Garcia-Tolson; a fellow Paralympic gold-medalist and the subject of The Final Sprint’s December 2006 “Success Story”.
Anxiously awaiting the arrival of his new running feet (also manufactured by Ossur) - Pistorius holds his head high and ignores the critics. He stated:
“If fokes want to come up with complaints about me or my blades, it’s their own thing. They’re welcome to it,”
Oscar Pistorius shoulders the weight of the faith of those around him, as well as his own ambition to be the best. Throwing his pride on the line, he has a chance to make history in the 2008 Olympics.
Research sources and for more information:: [Ossur], [Int.iol]
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Tags: 400m, Ampie Luow, amputee, fastest thing on no legs, medalist, olympics, Oscar Pistorius, ossur, para athletics, Paralympic, paralympics, prosthetics, qualify, Rudy Garcia Tolson, SASCOC
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The Final Sprint
Oscar Pistorius is an incredible young man who has found a sporting niche in his life. It looked like he and others didn’t realise he was a natural, instead he used to write his own sick notes to get out of cross country runs.
Oscar is going to get faster and it is not the length of the legs he runs on that should be taken into account what about the power in his upper legs they take a lot of the brunt speedwise I should think. So people should not blame it on the Carbon Fibre Legs he uses they should look at 19 years being able to walk on his stumps to strengthen his upper legs as well. The length of stride should not come into it he runs the same no of strides as some of the others.
What I am saying is don’t redicule Oscar for what he is doing or trying to do. Just look on him with pride and admiration because it must take a lot of courage bravery and determination and grit to do what he does as a double amputee.
He is also a great advert for the welfare of disabled people in Africa.
So here is a young man trying to do South Africa and the disabled world proud and succeeding in the most part. Some people are just envious of a natural talent that only surfaced three years ago because of a Rugby injury.
So I say Good luck to Oscar for the future.
caronsophiagilbert
January 26th, 2007 at 3:13 pmDear caronsophiagilbert,
I couldn’t agree more. Oscar is an amazing human being and and incredible athlete. That is why he has been selected as The Final Sprint’s February 2007 “Success Story”. Check back in the next few weeks for my podcast interview with him.
Thanks again for your comment and for supporting Oscar.
Take care,
Adam
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January 26th, 2007 at 5:13 pmAdam Jacobs
Editor-in-Chief
The Final Sprint
adam@thefinalsprint.com
Hi
Thanks for replying. I will look out for your interview with him. By the way I live in the UK. So the world will be watching him in the future. Please wish him good luck with qualifing and with his studies and keep drawing. I saw the clip last year on Transworld Sport. How old is his dog now? He’s a speedy little thing. The Jack Russell is fast like his owner!
Anyway take care and thanks again
Caron
January 30th, 2007 at 1:33 pmHi
Sorry to bother you again.
I was wondering if in your interview with Oscar you could ask him about the notes he wrote to get out of cross country running before he took up sprinting, before his Rugby injury.
I am interested to see how many different excuses he made to the gym master. His obvious ability that we all see now in abundance was obviously well hidden!
Thank you.
Caron
January 31st, 2007 at 5:28 amHi Caron,
No problem. You are no bother at all and I appreciate your interest and enthusiasm. I will do my best to pass along your question to Oscar. Stay tuned . . .
Take care,
Adam
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January 31st, 2007 at 7:28 amAdam Jacobs
Editor-in-Chief
The Final Sprint
adam@thefinalsprint.com
[…] “Paralympic gold-medalist strives for Olympic history” - TheFinalSprint.com […]
February 17th, 2007 at 1:28 amOscar has been an allround sportsman since childhood(since the age of 3) with races on the grass against his friends at every possible oppertunity.
May 9th, 2007 at 7:05 amOscar loved these imprompto races and will be the first to get rid of his prosthesis to line up on the immagenary “line”,on his stumps.
I will ask them to run to a fence and back. Oscar was also lightning on the turn around and ALLWAYS left his friends behind to compete for second place.
Oscars first blades with whom he devastated the 100 & 200 meter world records were primative, thick and heavy blades made by his farther and a friend.
Oscar is as fast as he is not because of his blades, but rather in spite of his blades. Henke
I Agree, because I have watched his races on tv and the internet on real player and looked at the way the other runners run and in my unqualified opinion its Oscar’s upper legs that does the damage as it were when beating his opponents not the cheetahs.
May 24th, 2007 at 8:31 amOscar is an extraordinary young man. Its his attitute and his confidence in his ability to win that I admire together with the bravery and courage he must use in his day to day life. When I read he drove a manual car that really got me wondering. I drive a 5speed Manual car and it took me 9 years to take lessons and pass (7th time.)I wear flat shoes so I can feel the pedals that in itself is a mind boggler. I hope the IAAF let Oscar run when he qualifies because he is an incredable athlete. So what if he beats able-bodied I think he will. Determination amongst other are his middle name. His knicknames are going to be with him for a while, and so are a lot of people who are on his side when it comes to the ruling. 2008 or/and 2012 the Olympics will see some history made. Good Luck Oscar.
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April 9th, 2008 at 5:08 pm