Thursday, July 30, 2009

What Can't You Do?

Aimee Mullins was born without fibular bones, and had both of her legs amputated below the knee when she was an infant. She learned to walk on prosthetics, then to run -- competing at the national and international level as a champion sprinter, and setting world records at the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta. At Georgetown, where she double-majored in history and diplomacy, she became the first double amputee to compete in NCAA Division 1 track and field.

She's a passionate advocate for a new kind of thinking about prosthetics, and recently mentioned to an interviewer that she's been looking closely at MIT's in-development powered robotic ankle, "which I fully plan on having." In her 20 minute talk, she compared prosthetic legs to eyeglasses saying in the same way that we wear designer eyeglasses she has designer legs!!! Press the triangular play button below to enjoy!!!

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