Supertraining

Regarding the recent Oscar Pistorius discussions:
 
This is something  paralympic sprinter Tony Volptentest said to  reporters 
when he ran here in Lisle back in '97.  Keep in mind that Tony  also is a 
double 
below the knee amputee like Pistorius.
 
When asked about his 'disability,' Tony noted that poor eyesight might have  
once been considered a disability, but glasses and contacts restore 
individuals  to good vision.  He felt his Flex Feet were simply a means for 
coming close 
 to restoring what he did not have, lower legs and feet.
 
The question both research groups (Cologne and now Rice) have been  
considering is whether or not this kind of 'restorative' process goes one step  
beyond 
in giving the paralympian an unfair competitive advantage over  able-bodied 
runners. And this has become an issue perhaps because the  first reports from 
the initial study was that the Cheetah blades were  allegedly far more 
efficient 
than a human lower limb.

Again, I ask all  interested parties to withhold judgment until the research 
team has published  its findings. And  recent press releases have made it 
clear  that publishing was the primary reason the research team did the  
testing  
pro bono.
 
In the meantime, forum members might wish to visit the Rice website to see  
some videos of the testing.
 
_http://www.rice.edu/nationalmedia/news051608oscar.shtml_ 
(http://www.rice.edu/nationalmedia/news051608oscar.shtml) 
 
Ken Jakalski
Lisle HS
Lisle, Illinois USA