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Lead Stories: Tuesday, December 2, 2008

The “Fastest Thing on No Legs” Gets Even Faster

Posted April 11th, 2007 at 8:45 AM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: News & Results

Oscar Pistorius Athens 2004 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.
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Letter to the Editor from Oscar Pistorius’ Prosthetist

Posted April 3rd, 2007 at 5:08 PM by Adam Jacobs

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

This morning I received a letter by Trevor Brauckmann, the prosthetisit for top amputee runner and Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius.

The letter, published below with Mr. Brauckmann’s permission, is in response to the controvery surrounding Oscar’s potential competition in the able-bodied Olympics and the IAAF’s recent ruling on “technical aids”.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Open letter to the Editor:

I have been following with interest and dismay the furor around Oscar Pistorius qualifying for the able body Olympics. I am currently involved with the making of Oscar’s prosthesis’s and have been involved in the making of prosthetics since 1985.

It is my opinion that a lot is being made of the “advantage” that he has with his ”carbon fiber blades” and not enough is said about the disadvantages that he and other disabled athletes faces. I further believe that the world is not ready to face the fact that a disabled athlete can be competitive with able bodied athletes.
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Podcast 33: Interview with Brian Frasure; Paralympic runner and Ossur prosthetist

Posted April 1st, 2007 at 12:52 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Episode 33 of The Final Sprint Podcast features my interview with Brian Frasure; one of the world’s premier Paralympic sprinters, a motivational speaker, a certified prosthetist for Ossur and a true inspiration to athletes around the world.

Brian’s dominance has gone unmatched for more than a decade now. He has set several world records, won a multitude of medals and his performances have permanently elevated the level of Paralympic competition.

In the interview Brian speaks about the tragic accident that changed his life forever, beating the odds to become an elite Paralympic athlete, and his decision to delay retirement.

In light of the IAAF’s recent decision regarding the use of “technical aids” and the accomplishments of Oscar Pistorius, Brian addresses the notion that prosthetics can provide amputee runners with an unfair advantage over their able-bodied peers.

Download the podcast to hear Brian discuss these topics, a comparison between single and double-leg amputee runners, Marlon Shirley, working for Ossur and his advice for others facing major challenges.

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Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Brian Frasure
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 17.7 MB
Length: 00:25:54

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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.

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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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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.
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Podcast 3: Interview with Paralympic gold medalist Rudy Garcia-Tolson

Posted January 19th, 2007 at 2:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Motivation, Success Stories, Columns, Success Stories, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

I was honored to have the opportunity to interview Rudy Garcia-Tolson, The Final Sprint’s Success Story selection for December 2006.

Rudy, a Paralympic gold medalist, lives by the motto “A Brave Heart is a Powerful Weapon”. He was born with several, rare birth defects, including the crippling Pterygium Syndrome. At five years old, after 15 operations, Rudy chose to have both of his legs amputated above the knee to avoid spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Rudy didn’t allow the loss of his legs to stop him and has persevered to become one of the world’s premier athletes. He won a gold medal in the 400m IM at the 2004 Athens Paralympics and has completed a half IRONMAN triathlon.

Download the podcast to learn how Rudy has overcome such tremendous obstacles, defied the odds and become a true testament to the strength of the human spirit.

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[MP3] Direct Download (Right click, select save as).
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Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Rudy Garcia-Tolson
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 12.9MB
Length: 00:18:50