Oscar Pistorius - Special Feature
In addition to profiling this remarkable young man and his extraordinary athletic achievements, this feature also aims to provide objective and factual information about his prosthetic feet.
Below you will find links to official statements and news reports concerning Oscar’s bid to compete against able-bodied athletes; the response from the sport’s governing body, the IAAF; and reports of the subsequent ruling by the CAS.
Pistorius is a bilateral amputee world champion sprinter who has broken his own world record 27 times and is the first ever Paralympian to win Gold in each of the 100, 200 and 400 meter-sprints. In January, 2008, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) banned him from competing against able-bodied runners on the grounds that his prostheses give him a technical advantage - issuing a statement on the topic, Össur adamantly disagrees.
In May, 2008, Pistorius took his case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which ruled that the evidence was inconclusive and overturned the IAAF’s findings.
Oscar and the IAAF
Oscar Pistorius had a dream to race against able-bodied athletes. Initially, that dream was crushed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) when it banned him from participating on the grounds that his prostheses give him an advantage over able-bodied runners. Later, in response to the world’s outrage, it reconsidered and offered to test Oscar to determine conclusively whether he posed such a threat.
After some testing, which Össur and Pistorius’ team considered incomplete, on January 14, 2008, the IAAF announced its decision to ban him from all its events.
On February 13, 2008, the international law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf initiated an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on behalf of Oscar Pistorius, challenging the IAAF’s decision.
On May 16, 2008, the CAS made its ruling, concluding that there is insufficient evidence that Pistorius gained any advantage from his prostheses, and overturned the earlier ruling. It marked a significant day in the world of elite athletics – disabled and able-bodied.
The Proceedings
November 18, 2009
May 16, 2008
- The CAS press release stating the ruling (PDF-file)
- The IAAF press release
- Össur press release: Össur and Oscar celebrate CAS ruling
March 26, 2007
December 14, 2007
- Össur CEO Jon Sigurdsson's letter to the IAAF: "the testing which you have commissioned will clearly show that he does not have a technical advantage over able-bodied athletes."
January 10, 2008
- Oscar Pistorius' statement in Pretoria, South Africa: "I will not stand down."
January 11, 2008
- Össur's statement in support of Oscar: "...any judgment against Mr. Pistorius at this stage and based on insufficient information, would be irresponsible and unfair."
January 14, 2008
- IAAF Statement regarding Oscar Pistorius (opens in a new window)
January 14, 2008
- IPC Position Statement on IAAF's Commissioned Research on Oscar Pistorius (opens in a new window)
February 13, 2008
- Dewey & LeBoeuf challenges the IAAF via an appeal on behalf of Oscar Pistorius (opens in a new window)
April 15, 2008
- ESPN documents Oscar‘s road to Appeal: Hear what Dr. Bruggeman has to say (opens in a new window)
Oscar in the news
Following are selected pieces of media coverage surrounding Pistorius' appeal to compete with able-bodied athletes. All links open in a new window:- New York Times: Panel Backs Amputee Sprinter’s Olympic Quest
- CNN: 'Blade Runner' wins Olympic appeal
- BBC: Pistorius eligible for Olympics
- ESPN: CAS says Pistorius can race against able-bodied athletes
- The Australian: Oscar Pistorius wins Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal
- More Global News Coverage Following the Final Ruling
- The Times Online (March 5, 2008): Tests give Oscar Pistorius reason for optimism
- CNN International interview with Oscar Pistorius (video)
- Read the New York Times front page article on Oscar Pistorius - January 10, 2008
- Read the New York Times article „An Amputee Sprinter: Is He Disabled or Too-Abled?“
- Listen to The Final Sprint's podcast on Oscar Pistorius
- Read Wired Magazine's story about Oscar Pistorius
- Read the Daily Telegraph interview with Oscar Pistorius
- Read "Olympic dreams of a blade runner" on the BBC
About Össur
Össur is in the business of improving people’s mobility. A leading global company in non-invasive orthopaedics, we deliver advanced and innovative technologies within the fields of prosthetics, braces, supports and compression therapy. Read more...