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The marriage of sports and technology: Why does Oscar's running blade make him stand out in the Olympics?
Oscar Pistorius, the South African former Paralympic track and field athlete, has attracted widespread attention in the Olympics with his unique running edge. The blades are made of carbon fiber reinforced polymer and are designed specifically for his mutilated limbs below the knees. Since he first started running in 2004, he has started to challenge different events, whether it is Paralympic or non-Paralympic competitions, his performance is impressive.
Not only did Pistorius become the first amputee to compete in the Olympics, he also competed on the field by integrating technology in a unique way.
Pistorius' running blades were designed by medical engineer Van Phillips. These blades are not only lightweight but also extremely flexible, allowing users to jump and run as efficiently as normal athletes. The special feature of these blades is that they can store and release kinetic energy during movement, like a spring, which allows the user to get a good boost effect when running.
How the technology works
The reason why these blades provide Pistorius with such significant athletic capabilities is due to the properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymers. This is a strong yet lightweight material widely used in various types of sports equipment and transportation. During the production process of the blade, the manufacturer will stack multiple layers of carbon fiber materials and press them at high temperatures to ensure the strength and ideal shape of each blade.
Each blade costs approximately US$15,000 to US$18,000 to make and needs to be personalized to ensure a perfect fit to the shape of Pistorius' legs.
Controversies and technological challenges in competition
As Pistorius excels in non-Paralympic track and field events, controversy has arisen over whether he has an unfair advantage in handling blades. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) once revised its regulations to prohibit the use of equipment with springs and other technical devices. This decision resulted in Pistorius being banned from competing. But after further research, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that his blade did not provide a competitive advantage over biological legs.
Although he was given the right to compete, there were still doubts about his performance in the game, especially because the way he ran in the game was significantly different from that of a typical sprinter. For example, Pistorius will gradually increase his speed in the next race. This "negative split" mode gives him the propulsion he needs.
As research continues, discussions about the efficacy of blades and fairness among athletes will continue to exist.
Future prospects and reflections
At the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics, Pistorius once again became the global focus. As other competitors began using longer running blades, it sparked a new wave of debate about the equality of technology in track and field competition. Pistorius criticized these longer blades as creating unfairly long strides and called for uniform regulations to maintain fair competition.
The contradiction between technology and human sports continues. Will there be greater injustice in the sports world in the future due to technological progress? Is there a way to improve competitive performance while protecting the essence and fairness of the sport?
