Technology at Paralympics Sparks Advances and Controversy
From: ECN Magazine - 09/19/2016
By: Garrett Ross

Here's how good technology for prosthetic running blades has become.

Greek runner Michail Seitis set a world record for his division with a time
of 49.66 seconds in the men's 400-meter final on Thursday. He came in sixth
place out of eight runners. The five who finished ahead of him were double
amputees.

"Oh, to be bilateral," said US sprinter David Prince, a friend and training
partner of Seitis', as he watched the race unfold.

Technology for prosthetics has improved so much that it is actually better to
be a double amputee in track and field than a single amputee, says Prince,
who lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident.

And more gear is always coming down the pipeline, like a swim cap that alerts
a swimmer when a wall is approaching, which is being developed for athletes
with visual impairments. Such swimmers are currently tapped on the head by a
guide with a long pole.

Read the entire article at:
https://www.ecnmag.com/industry-brief/2016/09/technology-paralympics-sparks-advances-and-controversy

Links:
Michail Seitis
https://www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics/athlete/michail-seitis
http://www.zimbio.com/Michail+Seitis/pictures/pro

David Prince
http://www.teamusa.org/us-paralympics/athletes/David-Prince