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Why I designed the prosthetic running leg episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 9, 2020 · 10 MIN

Why I designed the prosthetic running leg

from Sporting Witness · host BBC World Service

When sports enthusiast Van Phillips lost his foot in a water-skiing accident, he decided to design a prosthetic leg that would allow him to keep running. He used carbon graphite which was light, flexible and strong. His invention would revolutionise para-sports. He tells Rebecca Kesby how he was determined to improve the clumsy prosthetic legs available in the 1980s, to allow amputees to feel the freedom of physical speed and strength again.(Photo: The Flex-Foot Cheetah prosthetic running leg. Credit Össur)

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 9, 2020

What this episode covers

When sports enthusiast Van Phillips lost his foot in a water-skiing accident, he decided to design a prosthetic leg that would allow him to keep running. He used carbon graphite which was light, flexible and strong. His invention would revolutionise para-sports. He tells Rebecca Kesby how he was determined to improve the clumsy prosthetic legs available in the 1980s, to allow amputees to feel the freedom of physical speed and strength again.(Photo: The Flex-Foot Cheetah prosthetic running leg. Credit Össur)

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Why I designed the prosthetic running leg

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Sporting Witness?

This episode is 10 minutes long.

When was this Sporting Witness episode published?

This episode was published on April 9, 2020.

What is this episode about?

When sports enthusiast Van Phillips lost his foot in a water-skiing accident, he decided to design a prosthetic leg that would allow him to keep running. He used carbon graphite which was light, flexible and strong. His invention would revolutionise...

Can I download this Sporting Witness episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
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