What's interesting is that you rarely see a photo of Oscar Pistorius with his normal prosthetic legs on. He does not wear the carbon-fiber springs when he goes out to the store or when relaxing at home. He instead wears prosthetic legs that function much like a normal person's legs. Here is a nice photo of him switching legs. Link

So why doesn't he compete in his normal prosthetic legs? Oh, that's right, because he can run MUCH faster using the carbon-fiber springs. He could not qualify for the Olympics on his normal prostheses.

Someday, science may be able to build a prosthesis that exactly duplicates the functionality of the limb it replaces. I think those kind of prostheses should be allowed. But prosthetics that improve upon the replaced limb's functionality should compete in their own class.

OK jascob, why do people wear contacts to compete? It improves the function of their eyes, that is no fair. Why do we allow people who can afford to, to use special technology like treadmills, good coaching, and high altitutde? Its just not fair. If you really want fair, then the Olympics isn't the place to look.

So, you think wearing contacts is the same as using springs? Did eye exams become an Olympic event? Are you serious?

Assuming you are, let me ask; how much extra speed (speed being relevant to a competition measuring speed) would Oscar P. get from wearing contacts as opposed to wearing his carbon-fiber springs?

So you think muscles and tendons and bones aren't spring-like?

Better yet, do you think his "normal" prosthesis are like normal legs & feet???

Wow. Just wow. No, I do not think muscles and tendons are like carbon-fiber springs. Oh, I get it, you are trying to be witty by pointing out that they both have some spring-like qualities. Let me respond by pointing out that a bottle rocket and a Saturn V rocket both have rocket-like qualities.

Yes, his "normal" prostheses legs are more like the legs found on most people than his carbon-fiber springs. Are they the same? Nope, and that's the point; neither set of legs functions the same as a "normal" person; there is no valid comparison to be made in a race. Why are men's and women's events segregated by gender? Is it sexism?

I have a similar amputation to Oscar, and have worn similar legs to his "normal" legs that supposedly function very much like human legs... Let me set you straight...

His "normal" legs have no ankles... Yeah, those bendy things that help you walk up inclines and avoid turning your knees to dust. Sure, his "normal" legs may have some motion in the foot, and a little energy return but they pale in comparrision to the human foot. It would take an amputee wearing a typical prostheses about double the energy to sprint as a fully equipped person.

Now having said that, I am still undecided on whether he has an advantage with the sprinting feet, but my inclination is he does not. The mechanics of walking/running are just different, and must be overcome in order to just walk/run properly, let alone compete in the Olympics...

I recently received a pair of the "bionic" Proprio feet mentioned at the end of the artical, and I promise you they give me no athletic advantages... They literally are like wandering about in 10 pound cinder blocks! The technology has a long way to go before any one should be worried about those feet...