TIME Magazine Ranks Oscar Pistorius One of the 100 Most Influential People of 2008
Posted May 2nd, 2008 at 9:15 AM by Andrew Goodman
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Today, it was announced that Oscar Pistorius has made the 2008 TIME 100, the annual list published by TIME Magazine, which identifies the 100 most influential people in the world. Oscar is in good company, including the Dalai Lama, Lance Armstrong, Nelson Mandela, Vladimir Putin, and Al Gore.
While TIME refuses to rank the 100 in importance, but does create categories – Oscar is listed third in the Heroes & Pioneers list, just after Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Oprah Winfrey – the magazine also conducted a poll amongst its readers to hear whom they thought should be on the list, and Oscar placed 19th.
Just one year ago, very few people in the world were aware of this young South African bilateral amputee who may very well change the history of sport because of his resolve and determination to compete on equal ground and without apologies against able-bodied athletes.
It has been quite a year for Oscar. After shattering many of his own world records, and becoming the first disabled athlete ever invited by the IAAF to run in a Grand Prix meeting in Helsinki, and at the World Championship in Manchester, he was barred by that very same organization from participating in any competition sanctioned by them, on the grounds that his Cheetah Flex-Feet by Ossur give him an advantage over able-bodied athletes.
At Ossur, we are resolute in our opinion that the IAAF is wrong, and expect that the international Court of Arbitration for Sport will rule on his behalf. In the meantime, we applaud TIME Magazine for this distinction and for giving Oscar, a young man who embodies our mission of helping people to live a life without limitations, his due.
TIME Magazine has said that this is not a list of the hottest, most popular or most powerful people, but rather the most influential, stating:
“Influence is hard to measure, and what we look for is people whose ideas, whose example, whose talent, whose discoveries transform the world we live in. Influence is less about the hard power of force than the soft power of ideas and example.”
Related Articles & Resources:
- Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2008
- TheFinalSprint.com Articles/Interviews Related to Pistorius
- IAAF Website
- Ossur Athlete Profile of Oscar Pistorius
“Bladerunner” Video Segment Featured on ESPN E:60
Press Release Via: Ossur
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Tags: 2008 time 100, able bodied athlete, able bodied olympics, al gore, angelina jolie, bilateral amputee, brad pitt, cheetah, Cheetah Flex Feet, Cheetah Flex Foot, Court of Arbitration for Sport, dalai lama, disabled athlete, hero, Heroes & Pioneers, IAAF, lance armstrong, nelson mandela, olympics, oprah winfrey, Oscar Pistorius, ossur, paralympics, pioneer, South Africa, TIME 100, time magazine, vladimir putin
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The Final Sprint
I think it’s generally better practice to mention that you are publishing a press release at the beginning rather than at the end. For a while I thought Andrew Goodman was an employee of Ossur.
Anyway, Oscar probably belongs on the list. Though until he’s actually changed the rules, it’s arguable how much influence he’s had. He’s certainly started a discussion, though.
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May 16th, 2008 at 11:31 amCongratulations Mr. Pistorius on being accepted to run in the Olympics. If it is true that your cheetah flexfeet are slightly more efficient than the human foot in terms of flexibilty, couldn’t a microscopic adjustment be made so that that claim can’t be made anymore?
Either way I look forward to seeing you run.
May 17th, 2008 at 2:18 am