MSU Red Cedar Message Board

You're a loony.

My old user name is Fake Legs. I know a little bit about the situation.

They are not spring loaded.

I will explain how carbon feet work.

There is carbon weaved together to give it the braid look. Layers of this braid pattern creates an I-beam effect, which is extremely strong. The "J" shape design allows the carbon to deflect when energy is put into the system. The properties of the carbon foot allow the system to return to the original shape, thus releasing the energy that was originally put into it. For every 100 units of energy put into the system by the runner, only 91 units are returned to the runner. At a 91% return rate, these feet are the most efficient feet on the market relative to other prosthetic feet on the market made of lesser materials. The take home message from this is that the feet do not create energy. All the energy that is returned to the runner has to be put into system by the runner. He has to use his upper leg muscles and core muscles to get that carbon to deflect and return back to him

Now lets talk about what Oscar is missing. All the muscles below his knees knees are not there or not functioning. He has no push off with his gastrocs, he has nothing to plantar flex his foot, he has nothing to lift his toes during swing phase that allows his toes to clear the ground when running. All the muscles below the knee that we use when running create power. He has less muscle to create power. That doesn't seem fair. We have an advantage over him.

The other things that we don't think of is heat dissipation and proprioception. He has less skin surface to to sweat and dissipate heat, which means the rest of him has to work harder to stay cooler. He also has no way of feeling the ground below him. I would like to see someone try to run after numbing their feet. It would be hilarious to watch.

I really have a hard time with people saying he has an "advantage"... it is just a poor choice of words.

Actually that's part of the problem

The Olympics are history. Your taking over 109 years of running the same way and running differently

It could lead to a very slippery slope

If you kept the Olympics the same, you'd still have tug of war, powerboating and waterskiing. This is a situation where if he was the fastest man in the world, everyone would cry foul. He runs against able bodied runners all the time and holds his own. His times are solid. It's not like he's going to be your average RCMB poster running, he's fast, faster than all the other amputees and I think him running in the Olympics is a good thing.

Wow. I'm out of downvotes.

Can someone help me downvote this douche?

I don't know if people know this but some of his blades were made at Ossur in Albion, MI. Ossur has factories all over the world and they sponsor him too.

So if he was in a different event, it would be okay?

My brother works there and I know a few others who do as well. At the minimum, they are assembled there.

Obvioulsy a knee jerk reaction by those who oppose. This guy has made great strides and if he isn't afraid to go toe to toe against the competiton why should he be prohibited? The IOC should put its foot down and stop the nonsense by those trying to knock his feet out from under him.

I can't wait to see him go toe-to-toe with the others.

Oscar Pistorius, The Double Amputee “Blade Runner”, Will Compete In the 400 Meters At The Olympics

Oscar Pistorius of South Africa will be competing in the Olympics in the 400 meter and 4×400 meter relay events for his country. This is notable because of Pistorius’ physical condition, as he was a double amputee of his lower legs at 11 months old. He is known as “The Blade Runner” as he runs on a set of carbon fiber prosthetic blades in pace of feet.

http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2012/07/07/oscar-pistorius-the-double-amputee-blade-runner-will-compete-in-the-400-meters-at-the-olympics/