Oscar Pistorius - Special feature
Pistorius is a bilateral amputee world champion sprinter who has broken his own world record 26 times. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) banned him from competing against able-bodied runners on January 14, 2008, on the grounds that his prostheses are giving him a technical advantage. Ossur adamantly disagrees.
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 and the latest response from the sport’s governing body, the IAAF.
Oscar and the IAAF
Oscar Pistorius’ dream was to qualify and participate in the Olympics alongside able-bodied athletes. Now that dream has been crushed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which initially banned him from participating on the grounds that his prostheses are giving him an advantage over able-bodied runners, but later, in response to the world’s outrage, reconsidered and offered to test Oscar to determine conclusively whether he posed such a threat.
Regrettably, on January 14, 2008, the IAAF announced its decision to ban him from all its events, which would include the Olympic Games.
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.
- March 26, 2007
IAAF Council introduces rule regarding “technical aids”
Link opens in a new window.December 14, 2007
Jon Sigurdsson's letter to the IAAF
Mr. Jon Sigurdsson, Ossur’s CEO: "the testing which you have commissioned will clearly show that he does not have a technical advantage over able-bodied athletes." - January 11, 2008
Oscar Pistorius' statement in Pretoria, South Africa
"I will not stand down."- January 11, 2008
Ossur'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 Pistorius
Oscar's story
Born without the fibula in both legs, Pistorius was only 11 months old when his parents made the wrenching decision to have his limbs amputated below the knee. Oscar says he never really knew anything different. As a child he announced to his father that one day he would play in the Super 8 rugby event.
Oscar's achievements in the field
A double amputee, Oscar is the world record holder in his category for the 100, 200 and 400 meters sprints. Even more remarkably, he took the silver medal over 400 meters in the 2007 South African National Championships competing against able-bodied runners.
The Cheetah: Fast Facts
The Cheetah® Flex-Foot is a J-shaped, high performance carbon composite prosthetic sprinting foot, designed to store and release energy in order to mimic the reaction of the anatomical foot/ankle joint of able bodied runners. Read upon the Cheetah in Cheetah Fast Facts. Oscar in the news
- The Times Online (March 5, 2008): Tests give Oscar Pistorius reason for optimism
(opens in a new window) - CNN International interview with Oscar Pistorius (video)
(opens in a new window) - Read the New York Times front page article on Oscar Pistorius - January 10, 2008
(opens in a new window) - Read the New York Times article „An Amputee Sprinter: Is He Disabled or Too-Abled?“
(opens in a new window) - Listen to The Final Sprint's podcast on Oscar Pistorius
(opens in a new window) - Read Wired Magazine's story about Oscar Pistorius
(opens in a new window) - Read the Daily Telegraph interview with Oscar Pistorius
(opens in a new window) - Read "Olympic dreams of a blade runner" on the BBC
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Team Ossur and Ossur
Team Ossur
Oscar Pistorius is a member of Team Ossur. Team Ossur comprises elite international athletes and sporting role models, along with gifted performers and professionals from around the world. About Ossur
Ossur 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.