Is Oscar Pistorious a sporting hero, or a 'cheat'?

South African Oscar Pistorious ran third in a 400 meter meet at the 2011 Track and Field World Championship in Daegu, Korea, Saturday. Ordinarily not a noteworthy result, but Oscar Pistorious runs on two prosthetic legs. He has been nicknamed "the Blade Runner" for the futuristic and precarious appearance of his prostheses; some whisper he might even have an unfair advantage over his able-bodied competitors, so far has medical technology advanced. The Daily Telegraph quotes Hugh Herr, who designed Pistorious' artificial limbs, as saying that soon disabled athletes will be breaking world records. Pistorius was banned from competing in international competition in 2008 and Mr. Kerr was instrumental in having the ban removed. Mr. Pistorious' goal is to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012.

Photo: Elvar Freyr; Oscar Pistorious in training