Supertraining

Jim,
Nicely written and I agree. Unfortunately this issue is far too
similar to the endless arguments generated when discussing values.
Usually these arguments can never be resolved to everyone's
satisfaction and often not to anyone's. My position is based on
Ockham's razor, "The simplest solution is the best.", that solution
being that only intact (or prosthesis free) humans compete against
each other. Also simplistic but it does avoid the inevitable debate as
to when does the prosthetic provide an advantage. To me it is obvious
that they're trying to compare as you say, "stock cars and formula
one's in the same auto race."   

I particularly like your athlete classes, except maybe they should be
expanded to include most sports, not just sprinting.

I have tremendous compassion for Pistorious and admiration for what he
has accomplished, but I consider it unreasonable for him to compete
with intact Olympic athletes.

W.G. Johnson
Ubermensch Sports Consultancy
San Deigo, CA

--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "JimTheRef1" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> <getting up on the soap box>
> 
> Just my uneducated opinions here.... I take a simplistic view of this.
> 
> I find this whole activity of measuring the blade's mechanical
> advantage interesting but pointless.  Measurements mechanical and
> metabolic advantage should not come into the equation. It should not
> be about how good the prosthetic is.
> 
> Our thinking has become clouded by our desire to be sensitive to
> "non-traditionally-abled" athletes.
> 
> At what point in the advanced design of prosthetic devices would an
> athlete be disqualified from competing against athletes with more
> typical anatomies? How much 'spring' off the block would disqualify
> the prosthetic? When there is a 2% advantage? Measured how? Compared
> to what - my leg and foot or yours or the 'average' leg and foot? When
> the prosthetic catapults the sprinter over the finish line without
> having taken a step?
> 
> It's almost like having stock cars and formula one's in the same auto
> race. "Oh - but they both have the same tires, engines and power
> ratings."  Well - sorry - that is not the point. One's a stock car and
> ones a formula one. End of discussion.
> 
> Pistorius is an amazing athlete. Inspring. But he should compete
> against others in his own class of race.
> 
> Perhaps we could have several different classes of sprinting
> competition (somewhat tongue in check):
> 
> "Natural" (no HGH/steroids/drugs/prosthetics)
> "Juiced" (any drug you like, no prosthetics)
> "Assisted Natural" (no drugs, prosthetics only)
> "Natural Open"  (no drugs, prosthetics optional)
> "Wide Open) (anything goes, HGH, steroids, prosthetics, stilts...)
> 
> <descending from soap box>
> 
> Jim Lorenz
> Los Altos, USA
> 
> --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "carruthersjam"
> <Carruthersjam@> wrote:
> >
> > Relevant to previous discussions on the list:
> >
> > http://www.iaaf.org/aboutiaaf/news/newsid=44917.html
> >
> > Monte-Carlo - The IAAF is pleased to announce that the Court of
> > Arbitration for Sport ("CAS") this afternoon has declared that Oscar
> > Pistorius (RSA) is eligible to compete in competitions under IAAF
> > Rules.
> >
>