Month: March 2014

Bionics and regulations within Disability Sports

A TED talk from MIT’s Dr Hugh Herr on his labs latest Bionic limb technology has got us, at the RTSIC, thinking about the role that more active prosthetics play in the world of disability Sports. The general ruling from the IPC is that equipment that results in athletic performance being generated by machines, engines or robotic mechanisms, the IPC monitor the use of technology within events to ensure that no athlete gains an unrealistic advantage. There are inevitably some disagreements as to what constitutes an advantage, examples such as Heather Mills prosthetic leg being deemed ineligible for use at the Paralympic Winter Games or Oscar Pistorius’ claims that Alan Oliviera’s blades were too long and gave an unfair advantage in the men’s T44 200m in London 2012.

Sochi 2014 draws to a close and Team GB bring home a fine collection of medals

It has been an exciting couple of weeks in Sochi for Team GB’s Paralympians. Although there may be some disappointment for Anna Turney, and frustration from Kelly Gallagher (following several crashes) there has been the elation of three silvers and a bronze of Jade Etherington (and her guide Caroline Powell) as well as a bronze for the Wheelchair Curling Team and of course the historic gold medal for Kelly Gallagher.

With 6 medals to bring home this has been an overwhelming success for Team GB, finishing 10th on the medal table above countries better known for their Winter Sports prowess (Norway and Switzerland to name but two).

silver for Jade Etherington in the Slalom

Jade Etherington and her guide Caroline Powell have won another Silver medal in Sochi, this time in the Slalom event. This raises Jade’s tally up to 3 medals (2 silver, 1 bronze) with the giant slalom and super-G still to come.

In the same event Millie Knight and her guide Rachael Ferrier came in a fine fifth place, while gold medal winner Kelly Gallagher suffered a fall in her last run.

Team GB’s wheelchair curling team have suffered another of loss, this time to Russia. They currently stand at having won 2 games and lost 2 games in the round robin event.

Team GB make history at the Paralympic Winter Games

Kelly Gallagher and Charlotte Evans have won the women’s Super-G (visually impaired) to become GB’s first ever Gold Medal winners at a Paralympic Winter Games. This was coupled with a Bronze medal for Jade Etherington and Caroline Powell in the same event, which will sit well alongside Jade and Caroline’s Silver medal from the visually impaired women’s downhill race on Saturday.

Team GB’s Anna Turney was unfortunate to come fourth in the Super-G (sitting) having suffered quite a large fall in the downhill event on Saturday. Mick Brennan put in a solid performance to finish 10th in the men’s Super-G (sitting) on Sunday.

Ice Sledge Hockey

Ice Sledge Hockey was developed in Sweden in the 1960’s by two ice hockey fans who did not want their disability to stop them from playing their favourite sport. It first featured at the Lillehammer 1994 Paralympic Winter Games and has quickly become one of the most popular attractions for spectators at the Winter Games. It was not until 2009 that it was determined that female athletes would be allowed to compete. The rules are largely similar to those of conventional ice hockey rules with the major difference being those relating to the sledge.

The sledge consists of a bucket seat mounted on metal frame which runs on two skate blades under the seat and a skid at the front of the frame.

Flame Lighting Ceremony in Stoke Mandeville

Saturday night saw the lighting of the Paralympic Heritage at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury. The grounds around the stadium were a hive of activity on Saturday afternoon as we took a stroll round, and the area went into security lock-down at 3pm in preparation for the arrival of key members of the Paralympic movement who would be taking part in the ceremony. The event itself was shown (very briefly) on the Channel 4 news and featured Paralympic and featured double gold world and Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft ignite the Paralympic flame as part of a tribute to the Paralympic motto of ‘Spirit in Motion’.