Did you all see the Olympic runner with artificial legs just run the qualifying round of the 400 meters? He came in 2nd without even really trying. The top 3 go onto the next round so he said he was conserving a little energy for later.

It was just amazing. Some other competitiors complained that the artificial legs might give him an advantage, but the Olympic committee looked into the situation throughly and determined that he did NOT have any advantage, so he was allowed to compete. If you missed it, be sure to catch it on the reruns, or watch him run in the next round.

Nice story, good for the guy to make it to the next round.

Here's a picture. ht tp://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics--oscar-pistorius-steals-spotlight-with-olympic-debut.html

And here's an expert explaining why there is no advantage. www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/olympicsvideo/9408614/Why-Oscar-Pistorius-prosthetic-leg-cant-give-advantage.html

As I understand it, it's mostly because the prosthetic is a passive devise and the runner is missing the musle power from the part of leg that is missing, and must rely just on what he has left.

It should be explained to those complaining that they are free to remove their legs anytime.

HAHAHA how does he have any advantage, he has had to learn a whole new way to walk let alone run.

This reminds me of a place kicker in the NFL named Tom Dempsey in the 1970's.

He was born without toes on his right foot and kicked with a flat front edged shoe. He once kicked a 63 yard filed goal and I remember some saying he had an unfair advantage.

This was back in the days when not all place kickers did do soccer style.

He held the record for more than 25 years I believe.....At that time (1970, I believe), many more kickers were straight-on type's than soccer-style.Yan Stenarud was one of the first soccer-style guy's.....

I'd say, it's debatable whether the ski-guy has an advantage.....Whether it's unfair or not is alot less debatable.

I agree about it being debatable over whether he has an advantage. The 400 is one of the most physically punishing events in sports as it has become pretty much a long distance sprint and exercise in enduring pain. Just having less nerves and flesh in the fray might be helpful. I'm not sure if there is a conclusive way to compare mechanics, either.

Well he didn't make it to the finals, so I think he did NOT have any kind of advantage.