Starting In Lane One, Oscar Pistorius

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23701539.post-82501407005650395572008-05-16T12:37:00.004-04:002008-05-16T13:04:18.697-04:00Starting In Lane One, Oscar Pistorius<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bCmnOFPknBM/SC27x0MMSrI/AAAAAAAAAhs/6J9xkPKsjhs/s1600-h/pistorius.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 221px;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bCmnOFPknBM/SC27x0MMSrI/AAAAAAAAAhs/6J9xkPKsjhs/s320/pistorius.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201019609180555954" border="0" /></a>The Court of Arbitration for Sport - whatever that is - has overruled the International Association of Athletics Federations - whatever that is - and put Oscar Pistorius <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/trackandfield/news/story?id=3398915">back in the running</a> for the 2008 Olympic Games in Seoul. Pistorius, a double amputee, has run world class 400 meter times with the help of prosthetic legs built for running. "I am ecstatic," Pistorius told reporters in Milan, Italy. "When I found out, I cried. It is a battle that has been going on for far too long. It's a great day for sport. I think this day is going to go down in history for the equality of disabled people." Now all he has to do is qualify - which won't be easy. In order to run in an Olympic track event, it isn't enough to be the one of best in your country; you have to meet Olympic qualifying standards. Pistorius' best time is 46.56, and the qualifying standard is 45.55, over a second faster. He has lost training time due to this fight, which will make qualifying even more difficult. He could, however, be added to the South African mile relay team. Six runners - including two alternates - can go to the Olympics on a relay. The ruling does allow him to focus on the 2012 games in London, perhaps a more realistic goal. **I've said this before - it's great that he gets to compete, and I wish him well. Tests have shown, however, that he expends less energy in a race than his fellow runners. If you watch him race, all the other runners slow down the last 100 meters, and Oscar is still motoring along at the same pace. That is due to the prosthetic legs, and not anything else. It is GREAT to see him out there competing, but that doesn't mean he isn't getting some sort of advantage. Having been a former track runner myself, I can see where this would cause angst in the sport. What if he wasn't running 46.5; what if he was running 40 flat? (the world record is 43.18). I believe if he was shattering world records, those performances would be discredited, and I doubt the same ruling would have come down from above. It is hard - very hard - to make a living in track and field. The difference between those who get rich and those get peanuts is minuscule. That is why performance enhancing drugs are such a problem, and there are many who will view Oscar's prosthetic limbs (built resembling a jaguar's legs) in the same manner. I think people will be very happy for him, as long as he doesn't win. They won't begrudge him endorsements or appearance fees - those are based on marketability. But if this guy starts ripping off gold medal performances, there will be grumblings.CoralandOpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351985847303007612noreply@blogger.com