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Lead Stories: Saturday, August 30, 2008

ESPN, Nightline & GMA to Air Special Features, Present New Evidence in the Oscar Pistorius Controversy on April 15

Posted April 9th, 2008 at 4:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Motivation, Track & Field, Columns, Olympics, SPOTLIGHT

One of the most talked-about sports stories of the past year is the controversy surrounding Oscar Pistorius, the bi-lateral amputee sprinter who is trying to make a bid for the Olympics and is appealing the IAAF’s ruling that he has a technical advantage. Ossur, the maker of those Cheetahs, invites everyone to form their own opinion based on new information as presented by ESPN’s E:60, Good Morning America, Nightline, and ESPN Magazine.

Looking for insights into this game-changing issue that raises scientific, ethical and philosophical questions, and for the past three months, ESPN’s investigative journalists have traveled the globe to learn more. They interviewed Oscar, his family, coach, prosthetist, friends, competitors, lawyers, and Ossur, too. They also interviewed Professor Bruggemann, the German doctor who originally tested him on behalf of the IAAF.

What to see on April 15th:

• Good Morning America will air a segment between 7-9am
• ESPN’s E:60 will broadcast a 10-minute feature between 7-8pm.
• Nightline will look into the story at 11:30pm.

In addition, ESPN Magazine’s April 21st cover story will delve into Oscar’s case.
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Video: “IAAF Says No to Amputee’s Blades”

Posted January 14th, 2008 at 5:00 PM by Jeremy Sussman

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius is likely to appeal against the today’s ruling by the IAAF ruling that he gains an unfair advantage over able bodied athletes from his hi-tech false legs.

Below you will find a video report by our friends at Reuters.

In addition, please check out the front-page story in today’s New York Times by Joshua Robinson.

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Oscar Pistorius Controversy: Letter from Ossur CEO to IAAF President Lamine Diack

Posted December 18th, 2007 at 5:43 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, SoundOFF, Columns, Olympics

The following letter was sent from Ossur President & CEO, Jon Sigurdsson to the President of the IAAF, Mr. Lamine Diack, stating the prosthetic company’s position on the Oscar Pistorius controversy.

The IAAF is expected to announce this week whether Pistorius, a South African double-amputee who runs with the assistance of Ossur-made prosthetics, will be allowed to compete in the able-bodied Olympics and IAAF-sanctioned events.

Dear Mr. Diack,

I would like to commend and continue to support the efforts of the IAAF to make an informed decision on the case of bilateral amputee athlete, Oscar Pistorius.

Oscar - on his two carbon fiber “blades” - has challenged the way we all think of amputees and sport. As the innovation leader in advanced prosthetics, we at Ossur are also scratching our heads as we observe the phenomenon that is Oscar Pistorius. Still, Ossur has never questioned those who push themselves further. Our motto, “Life Without Limitations,” is not an idle phrase. We stand behind it in all our actions, and will support those who, like Oscar, dare to act on their dreams.

For Oscar, that dream is the Olympic stage, but what is at play here will affect all amputee athletes who wish to compete against the able-bodied in any IAAF sanctioned event.
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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 you

Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Oscar Pistorius
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 29.4MB
Length: 00:42:55

Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!

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