Podcast 16: Exclusive interview w/ Oscar Pistorius, the amputee runner on the verge of making history
Posted February 16th, 2007 at 6:00 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Motivation, Success Stories, Track & Field, Columns, Success Stories, Olympics, Special Features, Podcasts
The Final Sprint and I have the utmost respect and admiration for handicapped athletes and are proud to be official sponsors of the Challenged Athletes Foundation. These gifted individuals demonstrate incredible resolve and the power of the human spirit by successfully participating, competing and excelling in athletics despite their physical disabilities.
Today’s podcast features an interview with one such hero and TFS’s February 2007 Success Story honoree. His name is Oscar Pistorius and he is a 20-year old South African Paralympic runner known as “The Fastest Thing on No Legs”.
After having both of his legs amputated below the knee when he was only 11-months old, Oscar has exemplified the astounding spirit of these challenged athletes. Oscar is sponsored by Ossur and with the aid of their Cheetah Flex-Foot prosthetics, Oscar has ran his his way to multiple Paralympic gold medals and set world records in the 100, 200 and 400m events. He has also gone on to break his own world records 19 times in a single year and has successfully competed against able-bodied runners.
Having already attained unparalleled success, Oscar is now on the verge of making history once again – but this time by becoming the first amputee to ever compete in the able-bodied Olympics.
However, even if Oscar is able to run a qualifying time, he could still sadly be denied the opportunity to compete in the Olympics because he has attracted a number of critics who believe his prosthetics provide him with an unfair advantage. No able-bodied sports federation, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has ever been forced to consider rules for athletes with prosthetics. As the IOC struggles to make decision, Oscar has kept his head-up and pushed forward despite the uncertainty that surrounds his future.
Download the podcast to hear my exclusive interview with Oscar where we discuss his life, historic achievements, the controversy, how he deals with the critics and the very real possibility of him redefining society’s concept of human potential.
Listen In
[MP3] Direct Download (Right click, select “save as”).
[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to youHost: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Oscar Pistorius
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 29.4MB
Length: 00:42:55
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We appreciate any and all feedback. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at thefinalsprint (at) gmail.com. Thanks for listening!
Links for more information about Oscar:
- “Born to Run” - IEEE Spectrum
- “Paralympic gold-medalist strives for Olympic history” - TheFinalSprint.com
- “Olympic dreams of a blade runner” - BBC Sport
- “Is there a human right to be superhuman?” - MSNBC
- “Pistorius masters quick step” - Telegraph.co.uk
- Team Ossur Bio - Ossur.com
- “Oscar, winner!” - SouthAfrica.info: Sports
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Tags: 100m, 200m, 400m, able bodied, advantage, athletics, Cheetah Flex Foot, controversy, critic, criticism, disability, disabled, handicapped, hero, International Olympic Committee, marlon shirley, medal, medalist, Olympian, olympics, Oscar Pistorius, ossur, Paralympic, paralympics, Rudy Garcia Tolson, running, South Africa, South African, sports, sprinting, success stories, Success Story, unfair, world record, world records
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The Final Sprint
Way to go Oscar! Ignore your critics - they are just worried that you’ll beat them too!
Keep it up!
February 17th, 2007 at 1:02 amOscar,
I have to thank you - listening to you speak and learning about everything you have been able to accomplish despite the obstacles was incredibly inspiring and motivational.
You are my new hero! Can’t wait to see you compete in Beijing!!!
-Vanessa
P.S. - are u single?
February 17th, 2007 at 1:04 amYou are the sh*t! … Don’t let anyone stop you … and if the IOC tries such an injustive … then get a good lawyer and sue the crap out of them for discrimination
February 17th, 2007 at 1:29 amOscar
You are amazing as I have said. Don’t listen to anybody but yourself. Some people are just envious of your achievements as a disabled athlete.
February 17th, 2007 at 10:07 amKeep it all up don’t over do it though and good luck in the future.
you will do what you say because of your confidence and determination in your ability.
caron
I believe that you are a very inspirational person Oscar - but - and I’m sorry - I do not think you should be allowed to compete against people like Marlon Shirley who can’t adjust the height of their prosthetic legs like you can - or even Asafa Powell who doesn’t have any scientifically engineered body parts. I’m sorry.
February 17th, 2007 at 4:41 pmGreat interview with Oscar Pistorius. He
February 19th, 2007 at 12:31 amis a real inspiration to people with
or without disabilities. I hope he qualifies for the Olympics.
Hehehe, way to go, Oscar. Quite a thing to qualify, and then be denied. We all know you’d beat everyone hands down, no matter what legs you had, cheap prosthetics, expensive prosthetics, or your own damn legs.
I reckon it’s a case of sour grapes against a world class athlete. Imagine the ego dent (shock horror) of an able bodied man being beaten by an amputee! Unthinkable.
Keep on keeping on. We’re so proud of you.
February 19th, 2007 at 9:10 amAlly
RAK - South Africa
I couldn’t agree with Ally more! I’ve been following Oscar’s progress for a while now - and he never ceases to amaze me. Great job dude!
February 19th, 2007 at 12:59 pmOscar is a fanastic example of triumph over adversity. Listening to him speak I feel exhausted. How he fills up his days and that he has good friends who help him. His older brother and younger sister’s help. He is only 20, but I feel he has an old head on those young shoulders. A young man to be admired for his courage and his bravery and his determination and also his confidence in his own ability, this oozes from him in great amounts. He has the gift of motivating people to do things they have never done before thinking that they can’t.
February 20th, 2007 at 2:58 pmOscar Pistorius is certainly a one off.
Good luck to him in all that he does for his future may it be sporting or acedemic, as he also comes over as being intellegent and articulate.
[…] Oscar Pistorius, the elite South African amputee runner, is now a step closer to becoming the first amputee and/or physically handicapped-runner to qualify for the able-bodied Olympics. […]
March 14th, 2007 at 3:17 pm[…] Want to learn more about Oscar? Then click here to play and/or download my exclusive audio interview with Oscar from last month where we discuss his life, historic achievements, the controversy, how he deals with the critics and the very real possibility of him redefining society’s concept of human potential. […]
April 3rd, 2007 at 5:32 pm[…] TFS is proud to present our monthly Success Story award to individuals who have overcome tremendous obstacles, changed their own lives and/or the lives of others through running, sports or fitness. Past award recipients have included female running pioneer Kathrine Switzer, former Governor and current presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, and double amputee runner Oscar Pistorius. […]
June 7th, 2007 at 4:10 am[…] TFS is proud to present our monthly Success Story award to individuals who have overcome tremendous obstacles, changed their own lives and/or the lives of others through running, sports or fitness. Past award recipients have included female running pioneer Kathrine Switzer, former Arkansas Governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, and double amputee runner Oscar Pistorius. […]
June 7th, 2007 at 7:37 amHe is not a cheat, but he is clearly advantaged by these devices on his legs. Don’t feel sorry for him because he has no feet, because he also has no feet problems.
He doesn’t get sore feet, doesn’t suffer from ligament or tendon problems, doesn’t worry about landing hard on his feet and hurting his ankles, etc, etc.
These devices cushion all impact with the ground.
All he has to worry about is getting a good fit between the stump of his leg and the device.
Do you think the Olympics committee would allow an “able” athlete to wear springy attachments to their feet?
Do you think they would allow a high-jump competitor with no feet to wear big springs on his feet?
He should not be allowed to compete in any Olympics with these devices on his feet.
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:56 amThis is amazing! DON’T GIVE UP!
June 23rd, 2007 at 1:14 pmThis is amazing! DON’T GIVE UP! As a former sprinter (retired) I have a long history of watching my heroes be shot down because they took performance enhancing drugs. It is extremely uplifting to see someone accomplish so much from pure hard work and perseverance. I so hope to see you at the next Olympics. I’ll be cheering for you!
June 23rd, 2007 at 1:18 pmOscar, if I were you I would have found it quite flattering that some competitors try their best to keep you out of the race. It only means that you pose a threat to them. Good! Keep it up and sorry for those guys like Carlos Gonzalez and Mike Boyd.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:53 pmWell done Oscar!
I think that Oscar Pistorius except from beeing a talented athlete, is accually an adorable young man :-)
July 11th, 2007 at 2:11 pmI just want to say that what Alexandra has said is true and Oscar can’t help what he looks like nature made him as he is a rather nice looking talented young man in sport and other things. He should be admired not only for his running but the courage and bravery that goes into every step he takes and he is still able to smile that nice smile at us afterwards! Oscar is a unique person and with his outlook and determination on life aims to stay that way. Good on you Oscar and Good luck for Friday and Sunday and may you prove that you should be running with them.
July 12th, 2007 at 2:22 pm[…] Abdirahman, Abdi (Podcast 69, 08/07/07 ) Armstrong, Kristin (Podcast 20, 02/26/07 ) Barton, Michelle (Podcast 63, 07/09/07 ) Biggins, Jim (Podcast 8, 02/03/07 ) Boyett, Steve (Podcast 42, 04/26/07 ) Browne, Dan (Podcast 76, 09/10/07 ) Carruthers, Danielle (Podcast 17, 02/19/07 ) Chervenak, Mary (Podcast 77, 09/10/07 ) Clay, Bryan (Podcast 58, 06/18/07 ) Clement, Treniere (Podcast 59, 06/21/07 ) Culpepper, Alan (Podcast 15, 02/15/07 ) Daniels, Jack (Podcast 24, 03/07/07 ) Devers, Gail (Podcast 11, 02/09/07 ) Dryer, Elva (Podcast 45, 05/01/07 ) Engle, Charlie (Podcast 52, 05/23/07 ) Famiglietti, Anthony (Podcast 36, 04/08/07 ) Frasure, Brian (Podcast 33, 04/01/07 ) Frist, Bill (Podcast 47, 05/04/07 ) Gaffigan, Ann (Podcast 78, 09/11/07 ) Galloway, Jeff (Podcast 1, 01/11/07 ) Garcia, Rudy (Podcast 3, 01/19/07 ) Gilmore, Peter (Podcast 38, 04/10/07 ) Gilmore, Peter (Podcast 68, 08/04/07 ) Goucher, Adam (Podcast 39, 04/11/07 ) Goucher, Kara (Podcast 56, 06/08/07 ) Hall, Ryan (Podcast 6, 01/29/07 ) Hall, Ryan (Podcast 43, 04/27/07 ) Han, Peter (Podcast 72, 08/10/07 ) Heidrich, Ruth (Podcast 4, 01/23/07 ) Hoyt, Dick (Podcast 64, 07/16/07 ) Huckabee, Mike (Podcast 22, 03/04/07 ) Ion, Brent (Podcast 28, 03/16/07 ) Johnson, Jeff (Podcast 46, 05/03/07 ) Johnson, Weldon (Podcast 48, 05/11/07 ) Jurek, Scott (Podcast 34, 04/03/07 ) Karnazes, Dean (Podcast 9, 02/05/07 ) Kastor, Deena (Podcast 23, 03/05/07 ) Keflezighi, Meb (Podcast 40, 04/21/07 ) Keflezighi, Meb (Podcast 41, 04/23/07 ) Kern, Don (Podcast 12, 02/11/07 ) Kern, Don (Podcast 30, 03/21/07 ) Khannouchi, Khalid (Podcast 51, 05/18/07 ) Liquori, Marty (Podcast 19, 02/23/07 ) Loken, Susan (Podcast 32, 03/29/07 ) Lovejoy, Jeff (Podcast 2, 01/15/07 ) Maclaren, Jim (Podcast 55, 06/07/07 ) McDonnell, John (Podcast 79, 09/12/07 ) McMillan, Greg (Podcast 26, 03/12/07 ) Mills, Billy (Podcast 14, 02/14/07 ) Moller, Lorrain (Podcast 65, 07/18/07 ) Monti, David (Podcast 54, 06/01/07 ) Moore, Anwar (Podcast 70, 08/07/07 ) Morin, Luc (Podcast 44, 04/29/07 ) Perry, Michelle (Podcast 75, 09/03/07 ) Pistorius, Oscar (Podcast 16, 02/16/07 ) Ramaala, Hendrick (Podcast 71, 08/08/07 ) Reed, Tony (Podcast 73, 08/23/07 ) Rhines, Jen (Podcast 29, 03/20/07 ) Richards, Sanya (Podcast 25, 03/09/07 ) Richards, Sanya (Podcast 74, 08/28/07 ) Rigsby, Scott (Podcast 49, 05/16/07 ) Robinson, Khadevis (Podcast 62, 06/27/07 ) Romanowski, Perry (Podcast 10, 02/07/07 ) Rupp, Galen (Podcast 50, 05/17/07 ) Ryun, Jim (Podcast 18, 02/22/07 ) Sell, Brian (Podcast 27, 03/14/07 ) Smith-Batchen, Lisa (Podcast 67, 08/03/07 ) Smith, Tommie (Podcast 21, 02/27/07 ) Solinksy, Chris (Podcast 53, 05/29/07 ) Switzer, Katherine (Podcast 37, 04/09/07 ) Symmonds, Nick (Podcast 31, 03/26/07 ) Talbott, Daniel (Podcast 5, 01/26/07 ) Tegenkamp, Matt (Podcast 57, 06/13/07 ) Tegenkamp, Matt (Podcast 61, 06/26/07 ) Tegenkamp, Matt (Podcast 80, 09/17/07 ) Waitz, Grete (Podcast 35, 04/06/07 ) Webb, Alan (Podcast 7, 01/31/07 ) Williams, Todd (Podcast 13, 02/12/07 ) […]
September 17th, 2007 at 4:42 pmoscar pistorius puts effort in his arms and prosthetic legs when he starts the race so he puts alot of effort!He is #1
October 26th, 2007 at 5:13 pm[…] Marketwire: Ossur’s Statement An Amputee Sprinter: Is He Disabled or Too-Abled? […]
January 14th, 2008 at 3:27 pmI just heard about your story and have since done a lot of reading about it. You are an incredible human being and I don’t think people should be able to stop you from doing what you are clearly good at and love to do. I don’t believe that the prosthetics give you enough of an advantage to matter and besides, if the other competitors are that worried about it, they should try putting themselves into your place. I did it for myself, and if someone wasn’t going to let me participate in something I love just because I might possibly have a slight advantage, I would be so overly angry and try to persuade them otherwise. There are so many oppoortunites in this world that just can’t be given up. I believe that this is something you (Oscar) and everyone who believes in letting him compete should try to do something about. I believe in you Oscar because you believe in you.
January 17th, 2008 at 4:13 pm[…] TFS Podcast 16: “Exclusive interview w/ Oscar Pistorius, the Amputee Runner on the Verge of Making History” […]
April 10th, 2008 at 12:50 pm