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Paralympians’ Equipment Raises Debate on Fairness Paralympians’ Equipment Raises Debate on Fairness
(about 9 hours later)
LONDON — On the outskirts of the athletes’ village, across from the canteen where the competitors refuel and relax between events, there is a pile of dismembered feet, with a leg or two sticking out.LONDON — On the outskirts of the athletes’ village, across from the canteen where the competitors refuel and relax between events, there is a pile of dismembered feet, with a leg or two sticking out.
These jumbled artificial limbs and bionic knee components — also wheelchair tires and rims, splintered splints and shattered carbon running blades — are the tools that carried disabled athletes from around the globe here to the Paralympics Games.These jumbled artificial limbs and bionic knee components — also wheelchair tires and rims, splintered splints and shattered carbon running blades — are the tools that carried disabled athletes from around the globe here to the Paralympics Games.
But just as a runner with fully functioning legs can tear a muscle or sprain a ligament, custom rugby wheelchairs can be totaled in a nasty scrum, and a prosthetic ankle can be twisted.But just as a runner with fully functioning legs can tear a muscle or sprain a ligament, custom rugby wheelchairs can be totaled in a nasty scrum, and a prosthetic ankle can be twisted.
And so a Paralympic pit crew of 80 international specialists from the Otto Bock company is on hand to fix whatever breaks. The very presence of their free workshop underscores the crucial and sometimes controversial role these tools for mobility play in the Games.And so a Paralympic pit crew of 80 international specialists from the Otto Bock company is on hand to fix whatever breaks. The very presence of their free workshop underscores the crucial and sometimes controversial role these tools for mobility play in the Games.
The Paralympics is a 10-day event that ends Sunday at Olympic Park in east London. The competition first convened in Rome in 1960 with 400 participants. Now there are more than 4,000 athletes from 140 countries.The Paralympics is a 10-day event that ends Sunday at Olympic Park in east London. The competition first convened in Rome in 1960 with 400 participants. Now there are more than 4,000 athletes from 140 countries.
Most of the athletes compete in modified versions of Olympic sports, pitted against one another in classes determined by the degree of their impairment. The 2012 Games have been wildly popular, with record-breaking crowds.Most of the athletes compete in modified versions of Olympic sports, pitted against one another in classes determined by the degree of their impairment. The 2012 Games have been wildly popular, with record-breaking crowds.
A controversy over equipment came to a head last weekend when Oscar Pistorius, the South African double-amputee sprinter who also ran in the Olympics, lost in the 200 meters. Pistorius, who races on question-mark-shaped carbon running blades, accused the winner, Alan Oliveira, a double amputee from Brazil, of using blades that were unfairly long, allowing him to take fewer and longer strides.A controversy over equipment came to a head last weekend when Oscar Pistorius, the South African double-amputee sprinter who also ran in the Olympics, lost in the 200 meters. Pistorius, who races on question-mark-shaped carbon running blades, accused the winner, Alan Oliveira, a double amputee from Brazil, of using blades that were unfairly long, allowing him to take fewer and longer strides.
Oliveira’s equipment was within the range of lengths permitted by the International Paralympic Committee, which calculates permissible length based on the probable height of athletes if they had legs. Using equipment to one’s advantage is a phenomenon known among athletes as technodoping.Oliveira’s equipment was within the range of lengths permitted by the International Paralympic Committee, which calculates permissible length based on the probable height of athletes if they had legs. Using equipment to one’s advantage is a phenomenon known among athletes as technodoping.
The variations in the kinds of artificial limbs, wheelchairs and aid available to disabled people in their home countries are where the playing field seems less even. Workshop technicians say the most challenging items to repair are those brought in by athletes from developing countries.The variations in the kinds of artificial limbs, wheelchairs and aid available to disabled people in their home countries are where the playing field seems less even. Workshop technicians say the most challenging items to repair are those brought in by athletes from developing countries.
Many athletes not only compete but also live with homemade prosthetic limbs or braces cobbled together from scrap metal. Devices like the carbon fiber blades worn by Pistorius and Oliveira are often too costly for people from poor countries. Blades by Ossur, for example, cost several thousand dollars, not including the hardware needed to hold them on, which can double the cost. High-tech prostheses, like the computerized C-Leg from the Otto Bock company, a limb with a RoboCop aesthetic worn by many shorts-wearing sportsmen and women around the athletes’ village, require servicing, an impossibility in some countries.Many athletes not only compete but also live with homemade prosthetic limbs or braces cobbled together from scrap metal. Devices like the carbon fiber blades worn by Pistorius and Oliveira are often too costly for people from poor countries. Blades by Ossur, for example, cost several thousand dollars, not including the hardware needed to hold them on, which can double the cost. High-tech prostheses, like the computerized C-Leg from the Otto Bock company, a limb with a RoboCop aesthetic worn by many shorts-wearing sportsmen and women around the athletes’ village, require servicing, an impossibility in some countries.
By the eighth day of competition, the workshop had assisted 1,753 athletes, making repairs to 156 wheelchairs and 27 prostheses among many tuneups and overhauls.By the eighth day of competition, the workshop had assisted 1,753 athletes, making repairs to 156 wheelchairs and 27 prostheses among many tuneups and overhauls.
Donna Fisher, 41, a prostheses technician from Dublin, said the devices used by Paralympians from poor countries were often decrepit and sometimes painful to wear. She keeps on her phone a photographic catalog of some devices she has seen.Donna Fisher, 41, a prostheses technician from Dublin, said the devices used by Paralympians from poor countries were often decrepit and sometimes painful to wear. She keeps on her phone a photographic catalog of some devices she has seen.
In one corner of the workshop is a coffee-color leg awaiting finishing touches. It is for a Haitian amputee whose own prosthesis is so painful he lives on crutches. On her phone, she has a photograph of a rust-encrusted wheelchair, brought in, in pieces, by an Egyptian athlete. The wheelchair looked as if it had been made in the Victorian era. One leg brace belonging to a Nigerian weight lifter, she said, was made of animal hide, pieces of metal plumbing and string.In one corner of the workshop is a coffee-color leg awaiting finishing touches. It is for a Haitian amputee whose own prosthesis is so painful he lives on crutches. On her phone, she has a photograph of a rust-encrusted wheelchair, brought in, in pieces, by an Egyptian athlete. The wheelchair looked as if it had been made in the Victorian era. One leg brace belonging to a Nigerian weight lifter, she said, was made of animal hide, pieces of metal plumbing and string.
“This is Dark Ages,” Fisher said.“This is Dark Ages,” Fisher said.
Referring to the athletes, she added, “They’re so talented, but they’re hugely disadvantaged.”Referring to the athletes, she added, “They’re so talented, but they’re hugely disadvantaged.”
Heinrich Popow, a 29-year-old German runner who lost a leg to cancer when he was young, said equipment mattered only to a point.Heinrich Popow, a 29-year-old German runner who lost a leg to cancer when he was young, said equipment mattered only to a point.
“Everyone is talking about technodoping and advantage, advantage, out of the blades,” he said. “You’re the person who is in the blades. When you buy the same bike that Lance Armstrong has, you will not win the Tour de France.”“Everyone is talking about technodoping and advantage, advantage, out of the blades,” he said. “You’re the person who is in the blades. When you buy the same bike that Lance Armstrong has, you will not win the Tour de France.”
The success of Nigerian weight lifters supports that notion. Many had had polio and came to the competition with outmoded braces. But they won six gold medals, setting several world records.The success of Nigerian weight lifters supports that notion. Many had had polio and came to the competition with outmoded braces. But they won six gold medals, setting several world records.
Cobbled-together equipment is not always a sign of neglect or disadvantage. There is so much variation in the athletes’ bodies that sometimes a handmade tool works best. Grant Patterson, 23, an Australian swimmer who has a variant of dwarfism and impaired mobility, gets around on an aluminum scooter his younger brother made in a high school shop class.Cobbled-together equipment is not always a sign of neglect or disadvantage. There is so much variation in the athletes’ bodies that sometimes a handmade tool works best. Grant Patterson, 23, an Australian swimmer who has a variant of dwarfism and impaired mobility, gets around on an aluminum scooter his younger brother made in a high school shop class.
Makeshift gear is sometimes the only thing available, and some esoteric equipment, like backless wheelchairs for fencing or regulation-height stools for seated javelin throwing, may not exist in an athlete’s home country.Makeshift gear is sometimes the only thing available, and some esoteric equipment, like backless wheelchairs for fencing or regulation-height stools for seated javelin throwing, may not exist in an athlete’s home country.
Some competitors, like Richard Whitehead, a sprinter who won a gold medal for Britain, choose to compete with the equipment they know rather than the latest technology. An above-the-knee amputee, Whitehead ran on straight-legged blades rather than new equipment with built-in artificial knees.Some competitors, like Richard Whitehead, a sprinter who won a gold medal for Britain, choose to compete with the equipment they know rather than the latest technology. An above-the-knee amputee, Whitehead ran on straight-legged blades rather than new equipment with built-in artificial knees.
The controversy over the Paralympians’ equipment has been widely discussed in the British news media throughout the Games, but not everyone is upset.The controversy over the Paralympians’ equipment has been widely discussed in the British news media throughout the Games, but not everyone is upset.
“You have to think, actually, this is great, we’re arguing about sport,” said Richard Hiron, an Ossur clinician who equipped Whitehead and others with their limbs. “You have to think, actually, this is great, we’re arguing about sport,” said Richard Hirons, an Ossur clinician who equipped Whitehead and others with their limbs.
“We’re not saying, ‘Oh, look at these disabled people. Aren’t they doing great?’ ” he said. “The controversy is one thing. The fact that it is mainstream, I celebrate.”“We’re not saying, ‘Oh, look at these disabled people. Aren’t they doing great?’ ” he said. “The controversy is one thing. The fact that it is mainstream, I celebrate.”

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: September 9, 2012

An earlier version of this article misspelled the last name of Richard Hirons.