Spaw, the point you're missing is that yes, he *does* have an unfair advantage. Those carbon-fiber blades make it easier for him to run than an athlete with normal legs. He needs less energy for the same speed/distance than a "regular" athlete.

You might also have noticed that paralympic athletes in wheelchairs are going significantly faster than "regular" athletes. The world record for men's marathon is 2 hours 4 minutes; the men's wheelchair marathon record is 1:18. Again, it's fairly easy to spot that mechanical aids give you some advantage, so no-one suggests that wheelchair athletes should be allowed to compete in the same category.

And regarding these blades, have you seen films of people using them? Bouncing up and down, they're easily clearing 6 foot in the air continuously, so what do you think that'd do if they allowed those in high-jump against "regular" athletes without them? Major advantage again.

Of course, the obvious response if blade-equipped amputees were allowed to compete would be that every "regular" athlete would get themselves a set of carbon-fibre blades as well, to be attached to their feet. They'd then have the same advantages, and this guy would be left in their dust.

Graham.