Oscar Pistorius, from Blade Runner to Blade Ranter. Photo credit: MIMMO FERRARO / Shutterstock.com
The background
With world records falling, shock results and headline-grabbing controversies, the London 2012 Paralympics have so far provided the kind of sporting drama unseen since, well, the London 2012 Olympics.
Pistorius blade rant
Paralympic icon Oscar Pistorius reacted with fury after his shock defeat to Alan Fonteles Cardoso Oliveira in the final of the men’s T44 200 metres, branding the race unfair. The South African athlete told reporters that Oliveira’s blades were too long, giving the Brazilian runner an advantage: “We’re not racing a fair race here,” said Pistorius in a post-race interview, reported the BBC. Pistorius later apologised for the timing of his comments, but maintained that the Paralympics governing body should rethink the rules on blade length.
See the Pistorius’s shock 400 meter defeat below.
Road rage at the velodrome
British cyclist Jody Cundy was similarly unimpressed after being disqualified from the men’s C4-C5 1 kilometer time trial for a false start. “You can’t do this, I’ve worked all my life for this,” Cundy shouted at race officials, before hurling a water bottle and swearing, said The Daily Mail.
Watch Jody Cundy’s angry reaction after his controversial disqualification.
Swimming classification controversy
US swimmer Mallory Weggemann found herself hitting the headlines before the Games had even begun, after Paralympics officials changed her classification. Weggemann, who is paralysed from the navel down, was moved into a category for less severely disabled swimmers. According to the BBC, the 29-year-old swimmer said that the decision made her lose faith in the system. But Weggemann rallied to take gold in the 50 meter freestyle.
Pool battle ends in GB gold
Swimming rivals Victoria Arlen and Ellie Simmonds faced off in the 400 meter freestyle; the encounter produced a new world record and a gold medal for Britain’s Simmonds. The race attracted considerable attention after 17-year-old US swimmer was deemed ineligible for the 2012 Paralympics. Arlen was reinstated after an appeal, but narrowly lost to Simmonds in the final.
