Two time World Record Holder and Eight time Paralympic Medalist Blake Leeper recently returned to Oklahoma City and Scott Sabolich Prosthetics in search of Olympic Gold and new prosthetic devices.
Blake was recently dealt a disappointing decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport in declaring a rule imposed by World Athletics, (which governs track and field) that he would not be allowed to run in the Tokyo Olympic Games. Due to a new ruling stating that Blake runs at an unnatural height and thus, he has an unfair advantage, he has been ruled ineligible. The World Athletics Board recently shifted the burden of proof on to the athletes to prove they do not have an unfair advantage, and hence Blake’s additional struggles began. Although Blake has the wingspan of a person 6’1”, the court deemed he should be running at the height of 5’9” based on some research that did not include any African American runners.
Blake has decided to let his legal team handle his affairs through the proper channels and he will continue to train on new prosthetic devices. “They say I need to be shorter, so I am going to start training on shorter legs in case we lose our appeal” said Leeper. “With my wingspan of 6’1” and the fact that almost all of my competitors are over 6’ tall, we believe I do not have an unfair advantage.”
“I returned to Oklahoma City and Scott Sabolich Prosthetics because this is where they build champions” said Leeper. ‘I broke World Records once I started coming here and they are simply the best at what they do. I want to be the best so I want the best.”
