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Lead Stories: Saturday, September 6, 2008

JUSTICE PREVAILS:
Double-Amputee Pistorius Wins Appeal Over IAAF; Earns Right to Try for Olympics

Posted May 16th, 2008 at 4:18 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius won his appeal to be eligible to compete in the Olympics using the carbon-fiber prosthetics that have gained him the nickname “Blade Runner.'’

The Court of Arbitration for Sport today overturned a ban on the 21-year-old South African runner by the International Association of Athletics Federations, which said studies found the prosthetic blades gave him an unfair advantage.

“The panel was not persuaded that there was sufficient evidence of any metabolic advantage,'’ the Lausanne, Switzerland-based court said in a ruling on its Web site.

Pistorius needs to shave 1.01 seconds from his best time to reach the Olympic qualifying standard for the 400-meter sprint to compete in the race at the Beijing Games in August. The Associated Press said he may be picked as an alternate for the South African team even if he doesn’t meet the qualifying mark.
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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.
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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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Prize Money Increase for Comrades Marathon

Posted December 8th, 2007 at 12:12 PM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The 2008 Comrades Marathon, to be run on Sunday, June 15, will offer elite athletes a total of nearly R1.4 million (USD 210,000) in prize money, a record amount for any road race in South Africa and an increase of ten percent over 2007. The winner’s prize for both men and women goes up from R200,000 to R220,000 ($33,000) and the total winnings will be a whopping R1,398,900 ($209,800).

Speaking at the launch of the 2008 event in Johannesburg, Comrades Marathon general manager Gary Boshoff said that this move is in line with the international trend to reward elite performers handsomely. “We live in a professional era and ultramarathon stars deserve to be richly rewarded, just as sportsmen and women are in other sports. The Comrades Marathon is considered by the international fraternity to be the world’s greatest ultramarathon road race and we need to attract the best possible field. Last year we saw the impact a runner like Leonid Shvetsov can have on our event and we need to keep that momentum going,” he said.
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Podcast 71: South African distance-running legend HENDRICK RAMAALA

Posted August 8th, 2007 at 7:46 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Episode 71 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast features my interview with South African running legend HENDRICK RAMAALA.

Hendrick, the 2004 ING NYC Marathon Champion and a two-time IAAF World Half-Marathon silver medalist, finished 12th at last Sunday’s NYC Half-Marathon and is set to compete at the World Champs in Osaka and then return to NY on November 4th for the Marathon.

In the interview Hendrick talks about his disappointing performance at the NYC Half and the sleep issues he had leading up the race, having the chance to get to know and bond with American marathoner Peter Gilmore and his admiration for the NYRR.

Download the interview to hear Hendrick discuss these topics, as well as, being disappointed that the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials will prevent America’s best from competing in the NYC Marathon his belief that Americans runners are just as talented and train just as hard as those from any other country (including African nations), why he feels he can continue to compete for another five years, and much more!

Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and 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: Henrick Ramaala
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 9.07 MB
Length: 13:12

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

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Doping with blood substitute has negative impact on performance

Posted June 28th, 2007 at 3:53 PM by Courtney Albon

Section: News & Results, Running & Training, Nutrition, Supplements, Health & Fitness, Drugs In Sports

Attempts to enhance performance with a doping agent called Hemopure, may not be worth the effort. According to a recent study, the blood substitute intended to strengthen patients with anemia, may actually do the opposite for elite athletes seeking a boost in endurance.

Hemopure is a blood substitute derived from cow’s blood that serves to deliver Oxygen throughout the body at a faster rate and is intended for individuals with a low count of red blood cells. The drug was approved in South Africa in 2001 and has recently been made available in some parts of Europe, but only to be used as a strengthening agent for anemic patients.

In the past, Athletes have used a product called EPO, also a drug used by anemic patients, but doctors say that the increased amount of oxygen that Hemopure delivers to the body, sets it apart from EPO and similar drugs.

Athletes who use Hemopure in search of strengthened endurance may be disappointed, however, as recent studies reported in the International Journal of Sports Medicine, have found that Hemopure does little to improve performance.
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Shvetsov Recorded Fastest Comrades Pace Ever

Posted June 20th, 2007 at 12:40 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The Comrades Marathon, the world’s largest and most famous ultramarathon, presents a unique challenge for the sport’s statisticians. Not only does the race change direction each year between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, but either gains or loses 670m (2197 feet) of elevation depending on the direction (Durban is at sea level). This year’s race as a “down” run.

In addition, the distance changes slightly depending on road work and other factors, so comparing performances from year to year, even for the same direction, is tricky.

The 82nd Comrades, held last Sunday, was contested over an 89.3 km (55.5 mi.) course. Winner Leonid Shvetsov covered the distance in 5:20:49, averaging three minutes, 35.6 seconds per kilometer (5:47.1 per mi.). According to our analysis, that makes Shvetsov’s the fastest paced in Comrade’s “down” run in history.
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Two deaths mar last Sunday’s Comrades Marathon

Posted June 19th, 2007 at 12:42 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Two runners who participated in the 82nd Comrades Marathon died on Sunday, one during the race and one afterwards. The ultramarathon, which had more than 12,000 entrants, was run over 89.3 km between Pietermaritzburg and Durban.

Michael Gordon (34) died shortly after being helped across the finish line by fellow runners. He apparently suffered a heart attack moments before crossing the line and although he was treated within seconds by the emergency medical team, he was declared dead when he arrived in the fully equipped field hospital in Kingsmead Stadium. It was Gordon’s first Comrades.

Willem Malapi (48) finished soon after Gordon and was also helped across the line by other runners. He was taken to the field hospital and then transferred in a critical condition to Durban’s St Augustine’s Hospital where he died at approximately 20:00 after his heart had stopped for a second time. Malapi was a seasoned runner with 14 Comrades under his belt. The cause of his death was announced as cardiac arrest after he had suffered an electrolyte imbalance.
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