Disability or Superabilty? Prosthetics in Sports

Oscar Pistorius, bronze medal winner at the 2011 Summer Olympics, gold medal winner of double, below-the-knee amputee races and one of the most interesting athletes in sports, runs differently than others. As an 11-month-old, doctors had to amputate both of Pistorius’ legs due to a rare disease causing him to be born without fibulas, which are major bones in the leg. Pistorius forced an issue in public opinion that no one had yet contemplated:  is his disability truly a disability?

The prosthetic limbs, commonly known as “blades,” are much lighter and more efficient than human legs. According to BBC Sports, the blade makes contact with the ground for 20 percent less time than a human foot, allowing for a quicker stride.

Every time doctors find medicine find new ways to enhance athletes, problems arise. Whether it is human growth hormone, or more commonly, steroids, athletes will find a way to gain an advantage. What will be the verdict when a baseball player uses a fake arm to dominate the competition? When a swimmer has webbed feet? In our world, it is discrimination to not allow a person with disabilities to play with everyone else. In professional, or even high school, sports, what will the final ruling be when this becomes a nationwide issue someday?

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