Much has been said and written about South Africa’s Oscar Pistorious. He participated in the 2012 London Olympics
as a sprinter along with many others. What sets him apart from the rest
is that both his legs were amputated due to a deformity shortly after
he was born. In 2004 he donned his blades and took up running, soon he
was one of the fastest in the Paralympics, so much so that he qualified
for the 2012 London Olympics.
At this point, his blades do not give him an advantage. In fact, he has to depend on his hamstrings to carry him across the tracks. The strength that most runners gain from their calves, knees and thighs is absent, and that could be a reason why Pistorious did not make it to the medals stand.
The prosthetic blades are made to function at high speed, but they do not aid the runner in any way. That however, can change. In a recent article published in The Toronto Star, several engineers stated that technology is advancing at a fast pace and very soon prosthetics can be made which will provide significant energy to runners. The results are speculated to be extraordinary, with strong chances of such athletes outperforming normal athletes.
The technological advancements made in prosthetics are not limited to running. Prosthetics are being developed for all kinds of disabilities, and every Paralympics event is more technologically advanced than the last.
The rate at which technology is advancing, it can be speculated that soon athletes with prosthetics will be outperforming normal athletes. The Toronto Star reported that it is not impossible for engineers to make prosthetic legs which can make Pistorious run faster than Usain Bolt
At this point, his blades do not give him an advantage. In fact, he has to depend on his hamstrings to carry him across the tracks. The strength that most runners gain from their calves, knees and thighs is absent, and that could be a reason why Pistorious did not make it to the medals stand.
The prosthetic blades are made to function at high speed, but they do not aid the runner in any way. That however, can change. In a recent article published in The Toronto Star, several engineers stated that technology is advancing at a fast pace and very soon prosthetics can be made which will provide significant energy to runners. The results are speculated to be extraordinary, with strong chances of such athletes outperforming normal athletes.
The technological advancements made in prosthetics are not limited to running. Prosthetics are being developed for all kinds of disabilities, and every Paralympics event is more technologically advanced than the last.
The rate at which technology is advancing, it can be speculated that soon athletes with prosthetics will be outperforming normal athletes. The Toronto Star reported that it is not impossible for engineers to make prosthetic legs which can make Pistorious run faster than Usain Bolt
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