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Lead Stories: Sunday, July 20, 2008

Podcast 49: Interview with double-amputee triathlete Scott Rigsby

Posted May 16th, 2007 at 4:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

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

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.

I am proud to announce that TFS’s May 2007 Success Story and my guest on Episode 49 of The Final Sprint Podcast is Scott Rigsby; the first double leg amputee to ever complete an Olympic distance and half IRONMAN triathlon on prosthetics.

Scott now has his sites set on becoming the first double amputee to complete a full IRONMAN triathlon and furthering his passionate efforts to motivate other physically challenged athletes.

In the interview Scott talks about the tragic accident that led to the amputation of both of his legs, how he is lucky to be alive, and his courageous battle to regain a competitive and active lifestyle.

Download the podcast to hear Scott discuss these topics, as well as, the unique challenges faced by amputees in endurance and multi-sport events, his opinion on Oscar Pistorius (who appeared on the front page of the NY Times on 3/15/07), the Achilles Track Club, and much more!

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Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Scott Rigsby
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 19.9 MB
Length: 00:29:07

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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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