The “Fastest Thing on No Legs” Gets Even Faster
Posted April 11th, 2007 at 8:45 AM by Hariz Siddiqui
Section: News & Results
Last week, Oscar Pistorius established three new world amputee sprint records. Running at the Nedbank Championships for the Disabled in Germinston, South Africa, the 20-year-old Paralympian gold medalist has continued to live up to his reputation as “the fastest thing on no legs” by shaving time off his own 100m, 200m and 400m World Records.
He has now smashed World Records that he established since competing in the Paralympic Games in Athens 26 times. His 10.91 second time in the 100m on Wednesday, April 4, 2007, makes Pistorius the first amputee to officially break the 11-second mark.
The young phenomenon followed this up on Thursday, April 5, 2007 with a win in the 200m when he ran the race in 21.58 seconds. Then on Friday, April 6, 2007, Pistorius clocked a time of 49.16 seconds, or.26 seconds off the previous world record of 49.42 seconds. In all instances, timing was electronic and wind dated. Jan Bodvag from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) was on hand to certify the authenticity of the World Records.
Pistorius’ previous Paralympic time in the 200m, set last year, was 21.66. He has run the 200ms in 21.34 seconds, but that was an able-bodied meet, and doesn’t count towards the Paralympic World Records. Pistorius competes in the T43 category for double-amputees, but his times qualify him as the fastest amputee in the world.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Oscar, following the 200m sprint on Thursday. “And I’m not done yet,” he added.
Pistorius runs on Cheetah© Flex Foot carbon fiber running legs. Made by Ossur, the Iceland-based developer of more scientifically advanced prosthetic innovations than any other company in the field, the Cheetah Flex-Foot enable Pistorius to run his fastest and fulfill his potential on the track.
“Oscar’s performance in recent events is astonishing considering his level of amputation,” said Ian Fothergill, Ossur Americas’ senior clinical marketing manager and in-house prosthetist. “The Cheetah feet are highly efficient at storing and releasing energy that originates from powerful muscle contractions elsewhere in the legs or trunk. Still, it is a known fact that because he’s missing the natural power from his feet, his hips must produce over 70% more effort, and his knees must work harder to stabilize his limbs inside his prostheses,” he added.
Born without fibulas, Pistorius was only 11 months old when it became necessary to have both his legs amputated. Nonetheless, he became a high school sports star, competing in rugby, tennis, and water polo. After breaking a knee at 17, be took up track. Just eight months later, he was winning medals at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games. There was no stopping him from there.
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Tags: 100m, 200m, 400m, amputee, amputee record, cheetah, Cheetah Flex Foot, double amputee, fibulas, Ian Fothergill, international paralympic committee, Nedbank Championships, Oscar Pistorius, ossur, ossur america, Paralympic, paralympics, prosthetic, prosthetics, South Africa, sprinter, sprinting, world record
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April 10th, 2008 at 12:49 pm