monty wrote:
I've thought about this from all points of view, of course I'm not in the .001% of people in the sport that are affected. First of all, i think any sanctioning body has to look at what the international standards are. For instance, if you are qualifying folks for special olympics, what are their guidelines? IT would only make sense on the national level to link up with international standards, otherwise you just cause confusion and any qualifying standards won't make sense. I understand that a partially sighted person would not want to go full blindness, as that is a disadvantage. It seems like there is no contention about that, it is after all why there is a problem here. On the other hand, the fully blind do have that full disadvantage built in, and cannot do anything about that, unlike the partially sighted folks who can change their status.
I'm not fully up on the international standards here, but it sounds like you have to really be blind. If that is the case, then I fully understand why partially blind folks have to make the adaptation to level the playing field as far as sight goes to compete as fair as possible, under the guidlines. Sure the partially sighted person is angry, but so is the completely blind person who would have to compete in an unfair playing field. You cannot make both those people happy, so the best you can do is to try and be as fair as possible. It seems like that is what they are doing.
And I do not buy the argument that partially sighted folks somehow are now at some disadantage because they now have to race dark, that is simply not true. I'm positive that if I were to train completely blacked out for a month or two, I would adapt and be very competitive, most likely kick some serious blind ass. Would I be as good as I am now, of course not. Just like the partially sighted folks would not be as good as they would be with 20% sight, but that is not the point. If we are going to compete against "completely " blind athletes, and that is the international/national standard, then level that playing field and see who is the best athlete, not the person who barley sneaks into the category with possibly inferior skills.
I guess I'm with the group that says man up, go dark, and see if you are still so great in the category. Don't make lame excuses that don't hold water, as even a blind person can see right through them..
And what is up with the title blind pro triathlete?? Does this guy have a pro card?? I mean I know a lot of folks that get paid by their parents, local companies, sponsors, or whoever, but that does not make them pro. Just lucky AG'ers who are sponsored. Besides respecting the blind category, this athlete also needs to respect the real pros of the sport.
Wow Monty, don't know what to say here. Ignoring the fact its not the special olympics its the paraolympics, you don't think taking one of your senses away would hamper you for more than a month or two? That is pretty ignorant if you ask me. Aaron isn't just "sneaking" into the category, but I guess you would know that if you looked up anything on him nor had time to look up the rules, which takes all of a couple min google search. Nor does he have "inferior skills" but if you want to be rude keep going...
http://www.triathlon.org/...riathlon/categories/ here you go since you're obviously being lazy tonight. The changes have been instituted by ITU which say if you are in the tri6 category you must have blackout glasses
http://www.triathlon.org/...paratriathlon_rules/ . Therefore USAT was just following the new rule based on ITU, but that doesn't mean its the correct ruling.
Either way your post came off as incredibly rude to anyone is racing with a disability not to mention to Aaron who is one heck of an athlete.