There have been several big stories
coming out of the Olympics games this year with Micheal Phelps
becoming the most decorated athlete, records falling, athletes and
reporters getting into trouble over tweets and the dream team. Out of
all these stories there is probably none bigger than Oscar
Pistorius becoming the first amputee to compete in the Olympics
against non-amputees.
Many people that follow sports probably
already know the story of how the double amputee from South Africa
has been battle for the chance to run against non-amputee
competitors. In 2008 the (IAAF) International
Association of Athletics Federations said that he was ineligible
to compete against non-amputee athletes stating that his artificial
limbs gave him an advantage. Even though they said it had nothing to
do with Mr. Pistorius the IAAF passed a rule stating "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". Mr. Pistorius kept fighting against
the IAAF and competing in track events. Through all of his hard work
Mr. Pistorius finally has the chance to compete in the 2012 Olympic
games in London where he will be in the 400 meter race. Today he ran
in a qualifying heat for the race where he came in second to be an
automatic qualifier to get into the semi-finals tomorrow.
“It should not be a burden lining up
here but it was difficult to separate the occasion from the race, and
they do intertwine,” Mr. Pistorius said. “I found myself smiling
in the starting blocks. Now it’s an hour after the race and I still
have goose bumps.” He later added “I didn’t know whether to
cry. It was a mix of emotions. To sacrifice for all this is really
mind-blowing.”
Although Mr. Pistorius has finally made
it to the Olympics there are still a few people that don't think he
deserves the privilege saying that his cheetah blades give him an
advantage. One such detractors is world-record-holder Micheal
Johnson.
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