There is an intriguing debate swirling around 21-year-old South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius - nick-named the blade runner - at the moment. This ambitious double amputee dreamt of competing at the Beijing Olympics. Initially Oscar was banned from pursing his dream by the International Association of Athletes Federations which claimed, his specially-adapted carbon fibre blades, would be an unfair advantage. In other words he was barred from all competitions involving able-bodied athletes because of his potentially superior artificial legs.

Recently the Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned this ban, thus allowing Oscar to attempt to qualify for the Olympics. He has yet to do so, but there is a possibility that the “Bladerunner” could line up against feet that have slowly evolved over a few millenniums

At the risk of offending the disability community I have to question the fairness of this decision. What if Oscar is successful and wins everything in sight.

Does that mean everyone has to strap on the latest technology, to their lower limbs, to even up the playing field?

I remember our very own Kiwi Paralympian Mark Inglis saying that sooner rather than later these so called

blade runners will scorch past human limbs with ease.

If that is the case wouldn’t it be better to persuade Oscar to stick with the Paralympics? If predictions are correct and eventually the Paralympians clock up faster times than their Olympic counterparts, it’s a sure bet that the worlds media will focus, more intently, on what’s happening down at the Paralympic track. Surely such attention would be good for the disability community in general. No, its not saying I’m a super crip, watch me fly. It’s saying if you give me the technology I can adapt to become a valuable member of my community.

If Oscar continued to sprint down the Paralympian pathway the blade runner would surely become the trail blazer.

Ross Flood- Editor
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