This is actually something we talk about sometimes in PC circles. For example, at a Paralympic camp training ride Paul Martin (who has a below-knee amputation) was telling me that he feels he has an advantage in climbs over me because I have to drag around a “useless 13lb sack of water”. He was talking about my lower leg which really doesn’t do much in cycling other than provide energy transfer for my upper leg. A carbon-fiber post connected below the knee can arguably transfer the force more with greater efficiency if the ‘leg’ fits correctly, etc.
Paul was also stoked on his cycling leg b/c it was extremely lightweight and had aerodynamic fairing.
For swimming the ‘benefits’ of missing a leg are obvious, less drag (some disadvantages are listed below).
On the run at the NYC Triathlon last year (the PC national championships) an BK (below-knee) amputee apologized to me when he passed me in the run. Later I asked him why he apologized and he said he almost felt like he was ‘cheating’ because of how efficient the carbon-fiber running feet are. The running feet are essentially a large curved spring that enables the runner to run with sort of a step…SPRING…step…SPRING gait. From what ‘they’ tell me, a fit BK runner can often run faster than a ‘regular’ runner with similar fitness. Imagine having springs on the bottom of your shoes… (please don’t cheapen this by making some reference to Newtons, totally different beast).
On the other hand, leg amputees face a number of challenges that slow them down. First of all, not all leg-amps are amputated Below-the-Knee (BK). If, like Sarah Reinertson, the amputation is Above-the-knee (AK), it becomes MUCH more difficult to bike, run, and walk even with the best prosthetic limb. The knee is a critical joint. Also AK’s often loose some upper leg muscle when their stumps are formed.
Secondly, leg-amps have longer transition times because they have to put on the different legs for each part of the race. Putting on a leg involves more than just slamming it on (like most people put on a shoe). If there is dirt, water, salt, etc in between the leg and the stump the athlete can have very serious abrasions that do not heal easily and that impact their ability to get through day to day life (if they can’t wear a leg while the wounds heal). Read some of Paul Martin’s race reports on his website to better understand the trials and tribulations he goes through with injuries to his “stumpie”.
Thirdly, amps sometimes have difficulty with transitions. For example, getting to and from the swims b/c they have to use crutches, etc to get get around without their leg.
Finally, prosthetic limbs are mechanical and can break down, require maintenance, etc like any other piece of machinery. They are expensive and must be custom fit. If your stump changes size you need to refit it to your leg. The stump can swell just like a foot in a shoe during a long run. Prosthetic limbs require a unique set of skills to know how to use properly (imagine clipping into your pedal with a two foot long cleat…). Even something as simple as standing still can be a challenge for some amps, especially when they’re recently injured.
One-leg BK (and sometimes AK) amputees are often the rock stars of the PC division because their disabilities are immediately visible and b/c the most fit BK ‘amps’ can often post times that would place them amongst the top AG athletes (if not the elites), especially when you control for the longer transition times.
I won’t get into the guys with arm ampuations (above-elbow and below-elbow). Guys like Jon Beeson, Willie Stewart, Tommy Knapp, etc. Incredible athletes who face a completely different situation as the leg amps.
I don’t pretend to know from a first-hand perspective what it is like to live and compete with an amputation. Please understand that this post is just to share some perspective I’ve gained in 5 years or so of competing with my friends in the PC division.
Whatever the intention of the OP was, the post tapped into something that is a daily reality for some of us and maybe deserves a bit more respect. Regardless, I think anyone is better off just training, eating well, and racing hard. Ultimately that will make anyone faster no matter how many limbs they have.
