Oscar Pistorius

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Oscar Pistorius
Country Flag of South Africa South Africa
Alias Blade Runner; the fastest man on no legs; "Oz" Pistorius[1]
Club
Date of birth 22 November 1986 (1986-11-22) (age 21)
Place of birth Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1+1⁄4 in) in prosthetics[2]
Weight 80.5 kg (177 lb)[3]
Personal Best 100 m: 10.91 s WR
200 m: 21.58 s WR
400 m: 46.33 s[4] (46.56 s WR)
Titles
Olympic Finals: 100 m, Bronze – 2004 Summer Paralympics
200 m, Gold – 2004 Summer Paralympics
World Finals: 100 m, Gold – 2005 Paralympic World Cup
200 m, Gold – 2005 Paralympic World Cup)
400 m, Gold – South African Senior Athletics Championships
Highest World Ranking: Not yet ranked by IAAF

Infobox last updated on: 6 January 2008.

Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius (born 22 November 1986) is a South African Paralympic runner. Known as the "Blade Runner" and "the fastest man on no legs", Pistorius is the double amputee world record holder in the 100, 200 and 400 metres events and runs with the aid of Cheetah Flex-Foot carbon fibre transtibial artificial limbs by Ossur. In 2007 Pistorius took part in his first international able-bodied competitions. However, his artificial lower legs, while enabling him to compete, generated claims that he has an unfair advantage over able-bodied runners. The same year, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) amended its competition rules to ban the use of "any technical device that incorporates springs, wheels or any other element that provides a user with an advantage over another athlete not using such a device". It claimed that the amendment was not specifically aimed at Pistorius. After monitoring his track performances and carrying out tests, scientists took the view that Pistorius enjoyed considerable advantages over athletes without prosthetic limbs. On the strength of these findings, on 14 January 2008 the IAAF ruled him ineligible for competitions conducted under its rules, including the 2008 Summer Olympics. This decision was reversed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 16 May 2008, the Court ruling that the IAAF had not provided sufficient evidence to prove that Pistorius's prostheses give him an advantage over able-bodied athletes. Although eligible to compete in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Pistorius still has to qualify for the South African team.

Contents

[edit] Early years and education

Oscar Pistorius was born to Henke and Sheila Pistorius on 22 November 1986 in Sandton, Gauteng Province,[1] with congenital absence of the fibula in both legs. When he was 11 months old, his legs were amputated halfway between his knees and ankles.[3] He attended Constantia Kloof Primary[citation needed] and Pretoria Boys' High School[1][5] where, between the ages of 11 and 13, he played rugby union in the school's third XV team, water polo and tennis. He also played water polo and tennis at the state level. In addition, Pistorius took part in club Olympic wrestling.[2][6][7] After a serious rugby knee injury, he was introduced to running in January 2004 while undergoing rehabilitation, and "never looked back".[6]

Pistorius is studying business management with sports science at the University of Pretoria and training for the 2008 Summer Paralympics.[2][6] His sporting motto is: "You're not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have."[6]

[edit] Career

Known as the "Blade Runner"[8] and "the fastest man on no legs",[9][10] he took part in the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens and came third overall in the T44 (one leg amputated below the knee)[7] 100-metre event.[11] Despite falling in the preliminary round for the 200 metres, he qualified for the final.[12] He went on to win the final with a world record time of 21.97 seconds, beating single amputee American runners Marlon Shirley and Brian Frasure.[13]

In 2005, Pistorius finished first in the able-bodied South African Championships over 400 metres with a world-record time of 47.34 seconds,[7] and at the Paralympic World Cup in the same year he won gold in the 100 metres and 200 metres, beating his previous 200-metre world record.[14][15] At the 2006 Paralympic Athletics World Championships, Pistorius won gold in the 100, 200 and 400-metre events, breaking the world record over 200 metres.[16] On 17 March 2007, he set a disability sports world record for the 400 metres (46.56 seconds) at the South African Senior Athletics Championships in Durban,[17] and at the Nedbank Championships for the Physically Disabled held in Johannesburg in April 2007, he became the world record holder of the 100 and 200-metre events with times of 10.91 and 21.58 seconds respectively.[18][19]

Pistorius was invited by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to take part in what would have been his first international able-bodied event, the 400-metre race at the IAAF Grand Prix in Helsinki, Finland, in July 2005. He was unable to attend, however, because of school commitments.[20] On 13 July 2007, Pistorius ran in the 400-metre race at Rome's Golden Gala and finished second in run B with a time of 46.90 seconds, behind Stefano Braciola who ran 46.72 seconds.[21] This was a warm-up for his appearance at the 400 metres at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield on 15 July 2007.[22] As American Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner stumbled at the start of the race and stopped running, Pistorius took seventh place in a field of eight in wet conditions with a time of 47.65 seconds. However, he was later disqualified for running outside his lane. The race was won by American Angelo Taylor with a time of 45.25 seconds.[23][24]

Pistorius has ambitions of competing in other able-bodied events, specifically at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.[25]

[edit] Dispute over prosthetics

The South African tabloid The Citizen announcing the IAAF's decision to bar Pistorius from its competitions – photographed in Johannesburg on 16 January 2008.
The South African tabloid The Citizen announcing the IAAF's decision to bar Pistorius from its competitions – photographed in Johannesburg on 16 January 2008.

Pistorius has been the subject of criticism because of claims that his artificial limbs, which are J-shaped carbon-fibre prosthetics called the "Cheetah Flex-Foot" manufactured by Icelandic company Ossur,[7] give him an advantage over able-bodied runners. It has been claimed that the "blades" he uses are longer than is necessary, allowing him to cover more ground in each stride.[26] Furthermore, it is said that the Cheetahs return more energy per stride without ever becoming fatigued or requiring the same "investment of energy" and that they are not subject to metabolite or lactic acid build-up that slows down ordinary athletes.[9][27] Pistorius and his coach, Ampie Louw, reject these allegations, saying that his prosthetics do not give him an unfair advantage. They have brought up disadvantages that Pistorius faces, such as rain (which leaves traction hard to attain), wind (which blows the devices sideways), and the fact that he needs more energy to start running than others.[2] Additionally, Professor Robert Gailey of the University of Miami claimed that they return only about 80% of the energy absorbed in each stride, while a natural leg returns up to 240%, providing much more spring.[2] Pistorius has said: "If they [the IAAF] ever found evidence that I was gaining an advantage, then I would stop running because I would not want to compete at a top level if I knew I had an unfair advantage."[9]

On 26 March 2007, the IAAF amended its competition rules to include a ban on the use of "any technical device that incorporates springs, wheels or any other element that provides a user with an advantage over another athlete not using such a device".[28] It claimed that the amendment was not specifically aimed at Pistorius. To decide if he is running with an unfair advantage, the IAAF monitored his track performances using high-definition cameras to film his race against Italian club runners in Rome on 13 July, and his 400 metres in Sheffield on 15 July 2007,[9][29] at which he placed last.[24] In Rome, the IAAF analysis revealed an unusual "pacing strategy", suggesting a difference in performance that could be explained by the advantage given by the Cheetah prosthetics.[30]

In November 2007, German professor Gert-Peter Brüggemann began testing the artificial limbs for the International Association of Athletics Federations. His study found that Pistorius's limbs used 25% less energy than able-bodied runners to run at the same speed, and that they led to less vertical motion combined with 30% less mechanical work for lifting the body.[31] In December, Brüggemann told Die Welt newspaper that Pistorius "has considerable advantages over athletes without prosthetic limbs who were tested by us. It was more than just a few percentage points. I did not expect it to be so clear."[32] Based on these findings, on 14 January 2008 the IAAF ruled Pistorius's prostheses ineligible for use in competitions conducted under the IAAF rules, including the 2008 Summer Olympics.[33] Pistorius has called the decision "premature and highly subjective" and pledged to continue fighting for his dream. His manager Peet van Zyl said his appeal would be based on advice from United States experts who had said that the report "did not take enough variables into consideration".[34] Pistorius subsequently appealed against the adverse decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, and appeared before the tribunal at the end of April 2008.[35]

On 16 May 2008, the CAS reversed the IAAF's ban, clearing the way for Pistorius to try and qualify for the Olympics. In its decision, it held that there was insufficient evidence that Pistorius's prosthetics provided any metabolic advantage over able-bodied runners. A major component of the Court's decision was that the prosthetics do not provide an overall advantage to Pistorius in comparison to other runners, when their disadvantages are taken into account. It concluded the IAAF decision did not adequately consider all the various advantages and disadvantages over the course of the entire race, such as Pistorius's slower starts. However, the CAS panel stressed their verdict only applied to the specific case at hand, and that the IAAF might in the future be able to prove the existence of such an advantage, with advances in scientific knowledge and tests designed and carried out to the satisfaction of Pistorius and the IAAF.[36] In response to the announcement, Pistorius said: "My focus throughout this appeal has been to ensure that disabled athletes be given the chance to compete and compete fairly with able-bodied athletes. I look forward to continuing my quest to qualify for the Olympics."[37] To have a chance of representing South Africa in the individual 400-metre race, Pistorius must attain the Olympic "A" standard time of 45.55 seconds or the "B" qualifying time of 45.95 seconds if no other athlete from his country achieves the faster time. Each national athletics federation is permitted to enter three athletes in an event if the "A" standard is met, and only one athlete if the "B" standard is met.[38] However, he is eligible for selection as a member of the relay squad without qualifying.[39] If Pistorius succeeds, he will become the first leg amputee runner to participate in the Olympic Games.[40]

[edit] Medals

Time
(s)		 Medal Date Event
100 m (sport class T44)
10.91[18]
(world record)		 Gold 4 April 2007 Nedbank Championships for the Physically Disabled
Johannesburg, South Africa
11.16[11] Bronze 17 September – 28 September 2004 2004 Summer Paralympics
Athens, Greece
11.23[14] Gold 15 May 2005 2005 Visa Paralympic World Cup
Manchester, England, UK
11.32[41] Gold 2006 IPC World Championships
Assen, Netherlands
11.62[41] Gold 2004 USA Endeavor Games
200 m (sport class T44)
21.58[19]
(world record)		 Gold 5 April 2007 Nedbank Championships for the Physically Disabled
Johannesburg, South Africa
21.80
(21.66 in semifinal –
world record)[41]		 Gold 2006 IPC World Championships
Assen, Netherlands
21.97[13] Gold 17 September – 28 September 2004 2004 Summer Paralympics
Athens, Greece
22.01[15]
(world record)		 Gold 15 May 2005 2005 Visa Paralympic World Cup
Manchester, England, UK
22.71[41] Gold 2004 USA Endeavor Games
400 m (sport class T44)
46.56[17]
(world record)		 Gold 17 March 2007 South African Senior Athletics Championships
Durban, South Africa
49.42[41] Gold 2006 IPC World Championships
Assen, Netherlands

[edit] Time comparisons

The following tables show comparisons between Pistorius's best times at official events and the Olympic and World record winning times as at 2 June 2008 over the same distance:

[edit] 100 m

Time
(s)		 Athlete Date Event
9.72[42]
(World record)		 Usain Bolt (Jamaica) 31 May 2008 Reebok Grand Prix
New York City, New York, USA
9.84[43]
(Olympic record)		 Donovan Bailey (Canada) 27 July 1996 1996 Summer Olympics
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
10.91[18]
(Paralympic world record)		 Oscar Pistorius (South Africa) 4 April 2007 Nedbank Championships for the Physically Disabled
Johannesburg, South Africa

[edit] 200 m

Time
(s)		 Athlete Date Event
19.32[44][43]
(World and Olympic record)		 Michael Johnson (USA) 1 August 1996 1996 Summer Olympics
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
21.58[19]
(Paralympic world record)		 Oscar Pistorius (South Africa) 5 April 2007 Nedbank Championships for the Physically Disabled
Johannesburg, South Africa

[edit] 400 m

Time
(s)		 Athlete Date Event
43.18[44]
(World record)		 Michael Johnson (USA) 26 August 1999 Seville, Spain
43.49[43]
(Olympic record)		 Michael Johnson (USA) 29 July 1996 1996 Summer Olympics
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
46.56[17]
(Paralympic world record)		 Oscar Pistorius (South Africa) 17 March 2007 South African Senior Athletics Championships
Durban, South Africa

[edit] Other awards and accolades

In 2006, Pistorius was conferred the Order of Ikhamanga in Bronze (OIB) by the President of South Africa for outstanding achievement in sports.[1]

On 9 December 2007, Pistorius was awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award, which is conferred for outstanding courage and achievement in the face of adversity.[45]

In May 2008, Pistorius made the "2008 TIME 100" – Time magazine's annual list of the world's most influential people – appearing third in the "Heroes & Pioneers" section. Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to climb Mount Everest, wrote in an essay that Pistorius was "on the cusp of a paradigm shift in which disability becomes ability, disadvantage becomes advantage. Yet we mustn't lose sight of what makes an athlete great. It's too easy to credit Pistorius' success to technology. Through birth or circumstance, some are given certain gifts, but it's what one does with those gifts, the hours devoted to training, the desire to be the best, that is at the true heart of a champion."[46]

[edit] Personal life

Pistorius has distant Italian ancestry – his mother's grandmother was Italian.[47] He has an elder brother, Carl, and a younger sister, Aimee.[48]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Mr. Oscar "Oz" PISTORIUS. Who's Who of Southern Africa. 24.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-18.
  2. ^ a b c d e Jeré Longman. "An amputee sprinter: Is he disabled or too-abled?", The New York Times, 2007-05-15, pp. A1 & A21. 
  3. ^ a b Josh McHugh. "Blade Runner", Wired, March 2007. 
  4. ^ Pistorius delays his Olympics bid, BBC Sport, 2008-05-21, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/athletics/7413353.stm> .
  5. ^ Gareth A. Davies. "Olympics within amputee's reach", The Daily Telegraph, 2004-10-06. 
  6. ^ a b c d Gareth A. Davies [interviewer]. "My sport: Oscar Pistorius", The Daily Telegraph, 2007-05-23. 
  7. ^ a b c d Oscar Pistorius. Ossur. Retrieved on 2008-03-22.
  8. ^ After the 1982 Ridley Scott film Blade Runner.
  9. ^ a b c d Tom Knight. "Pistorius is no novelty sprinter", The Daily Telegraph (Sport), 2007-07-11, p. S12. 
  10. ^ Pistorius is also occasionally referred to as "the fastest thing on no legs". See, for instance, the following: "Amputee sprinter second in Rome", BBC News, 2007-07-14.  "Blow to Oscar's Olympics dream", News24, 2007-12-19.  Oscar Pistorius. Ossur. Retrieved on 2008-03-22.
  11. ^ a b Athens 2004 Paralympic Games: Athletics: Men's 100 m T44. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
  12. ^ From Paralympics to Olympics?. Disability Sport South Africa (2006-11-09). Retrieved on 2008-03-26.
  13. ^ a b Athens 2004 Paralympic Games: Athletics: Men's 200 m T44. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
  14. ^ a b Athletics results: Event 6: T44 100m (Men). Paralympic World Cup. Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
  15. ^ a b Athletics results: Event 16: T44 200m (Men). Paralympic World Cup. Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
  16. ^ "Crates leads superb day for GB", BBC Sport, 2006-09-09. 
  17. ^ a b c De Jongh Borchardt. "Oscar reaches for his dream", News24, 2007-03-19. 
  18. ^ a b c "Oscar sets 100m world record", News24, 2007-04-04. 
  19. ^ a b c "Oscar Pistorius shatters 100m, 200m Records", Mail & Guardian, 2007-05-05. 
  20. ^ Mike Burnett. "Olympic dreams of a blade runner", BBC Sport, 2005-05-05.  Matthew Pryor. "Pistorius willing and able to compete with the best", The Times, 2006-04-24. 
  21. ^ Andrew Dampf. "Paralympian Pistorius 2nd in able-bodied 'B' race", USA Today, 2007-07-13.  "Oscar: Nice to be out on track", News24, 2007-07-14. 
  22. ^ An article dated 11 July 2007 in the Daily Telegraph claimed that Pistorius's participation in the British Grand Prix was the first time that a disabled athlete had competed against the world's best runners in a top international meeting: see Tom Knight. "Pistorius is no novelty sprinter", The Daily Telegraph (Sport), 2007-07-11, p. S12.  However, this does not seem to be correct – for instance, American runner Marla Runyan, who is legally blind, won the 1,500-metre race at the Pan American Games in 1999. At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, she became the first legally-blind athlete to compete in the Olympics when she was placed eighth in the 1,500 metres.
  23. ^ "Angelo Taylor wins on Oscar Pistorius's debut", The Daily Telegraph, 2007-07-15.  "Taylor profits from Wariner slip", BBC Sport, 2007-07-15. 
  24. ^ a b "Angry Pistorius calls for talks", BBC Sport, 2007-07-15. 
  25. ^ Elizabeth Hudson. "Amputee eyes Olympics", BBC Sport, 2006-05-05. 
  26. ^ Brian Alexander. "Is there a human right to be superhuman?", MSNBC, 2006-05-31. 
  27. ^ Simon Austin. "Blade Runner's ongoing battle", BBC Sport, 2007-07-12.  Ross Tucker (2007-07-11). Physiological advantages behind the Cheetah prosthetic blades. The Science of Sport. Retrieved on 2007-01-15.
  28. ^ IAAF Council introduces rule regarding "technical aids". International Association of Athletics Federations (2007-03-26). Retrieved on 2008-05-28. (2008) Competition Rules 2008. Monaco: International Association of Athletics Federations, rule 144.2(e).  See "IAAF proposes rule which would keep South African amputee sprinter out of Beijing Games", 2007-05-31.  Charles Carrick. "IAAF to halt Blade Runner", The Daily Telegraph, 2007-06-01. 
  29. ^ Simon Hart. "Blade Runner Oscar Pistorius furious at IAAF", The Sunday Telegraph, 2007-07-15. 
  30. ^ Ross Tucker (2007-07-17). Oscar Pistorius debut: The scientific facts and implications [updated]. The Science of Sport. Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
  31. ^ "'Blade Runner' handed Olympic ban", BBC Sport, 2008-01-14. 
  32. ^ "Report: Artificial limbs give paralympic champion competitive edge", International Herald Tribune, 2007-12-20. 
  33. ^ Oscar Pistorius – independent scientific study concludes that Cheetah prosthetics offer clear mechanical advantages. International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) (2008-01-14). Retrieved on 2008-05-18. "Federation expected to rule Pistorius ineligible for Beijing Games", ESPN, 2008-01-10.  Tom Knight. "IAAF call time on Oscar Pistorius' dream", The Daily Telegraph, 2008-01-10.  IAAF announcement – Oscar Pistorius banned based on test results. The Science of Sport (2008-01-14). Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
  34. ^ Jonathan Clayton. "Oscar Pistorius vows to fight Olympics ban", The Times, 2008-01-15. 
  35. ^ "'Blade Runner' fights Olympic ban", CNN, 2008-02-14.  Michael Phillips. "Pistorius to begin appeal to CAS", The Guardian, 2008-04-28.  "Pistorius waits on Olympic news", BBC Sport, 2008-04-30. 
  36. ^ Arbitral award delivered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ... in the arbitration between Mr Oscar Pistorius ... v/ International Association of Athletics Federations (CAS 2008/A/1480 Pistorius v/ IAAF). Court of Arbitration for Sport (2008-05-16). Retrieved on 2008-05-16. Press release: Athletics – Case Oscar Pistorius v/ IAAF: The appeal filed by Oscar Pistorius upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Court of Arbitration for Sport (2008-05-16). Retrieved on 2008-05-16. Pistorius is eligible for IAAF competition. International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) (2008-05-16). Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
  37. ^ "Pistorius eligible for Olympics", BBC Sport, 2008-05-16. 
  38. ^ Athletics: Qualification standards. Beijing 2008: The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-16.
  39. ^ "Pistorius primed for Beijing after overturning ban: 'I look forward to continuing my quest to qualify'", The Guardian, 2008-05-16.  Graham Dunbar. "Double-amputee wins appeal to aim for Olympics", The Independent, 2008-05-16.  Vicki Hodges. "Pistorius cleared to compete for Olympic place", The Daily Telegraph, 2008-05-16.  Nico Hines. "Amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius allowed to compete in Beijing", The Times, 2008-05-16. 
  40. ^ Pistorius's compatriot Natalie du Toit, a swimmer whose left leg was amputated above the knee after a traffic accident, is the first amputee to qualify in any event for the 2008 Summer Olympics: Simon Hart. "Dreams carry Natalie du Toit to Beijing", The Daily Telegraph (Sport), 2008-05-04. 
  41. ^ a b c d e Oscar Pistorius competitive highlights. Ossur. Retrieved on 2008-03-08. "Pistorius sprints to new record", BBC Sport, 2007-04-07. 
  42. ^ World record: Athletics – 100 m – progression, International Olympic Committee, <http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/records/results_uk.asp?DIS_S_CODE=AT&GET_C_ID=M&GET_C_OL=&GET_C_WO=1&EVT_S_CODE=001&RESULT=TRUE>. Retrieved on 2 June 2008 . See also Bolt sets new 100m world record, BBC Sport, 2008-06-01, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/athletics/7429745.stm> ; Athletics: New York Grand Prix results, International Olympic Committee, 2008-06-01, <http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/sports_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=135806>. Retrieved on 2 June 2008 .
  43. ^ a b c Athletics: Current Olympic records: Men. International Olympic Committee (2004-08-27). Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
  44. ^ a b Athletics: Current world records: Men. International Olympic Committee (2007-09-18). Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
  45. ^ "Calzaghe wins Sports Personality", BBC Sport, 2007-12-09. 
  46. ^ Erik Weihenmayer. "Oscar Pistorius", Time, [May 2008]. Retrieved on 2008-05-10.  TIME Magazine ranks Oscar Pistorius one of the 100 most influential people of 2008. Ossur (2008-05-02).
  47. ^ Gennaro Bozza. "Pistorius bionico? 'No, solo un uomo' [Pistorius bionic? 'No, just a man']", La Gazzetta dello Sport [Sports Gazette], 2007-07-11. Retrieved on 2008-02-07. (Italian) 
  48. ^ Robert Philip. "Pistorius masters quick step", The Daily Telegraph, 2005-04-27. 

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

[edit] Articles

[edit] News articles

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Pistorius, Oscar
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Pistorius, Oscar Leonard Carl
SHORT DESCRIPTION South African double-amputee runner
DATE OF BIRTH 22 November 1986
PLACE OF BIRTH Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH