London 2017: Tense times for technicians

From its repair service centre next to the warm-up and training track, the Ottobock Technical Service Team has been working hard at the London 2017 World Para Athletics Championships to repair equipment relied on by athletes for everyday life and competition.

Staffed by 24 highly-skilled prosthetists, orthotists, wheelchair technicians and welders from Great Britain, Germany and Sweden, the repair is equipped with specialist machinery and 1,800 spare parts.

Ottobock’s carbon fibre experts are in high demand. This week, they have replaced broken running blades and repaired a cracked socket for an athlete ready to run in the women’s 100m final T42.

Ottobock Techncial Service Team manager Russell Pizzey said: “Ottobock’s track and court-side technical service has been in high demand at these Championships. The increased use of equipment and competitiveness of athletes is reflected in the repair centre.

“After one of the crashes last night, three of the teams involved arrived together. There was a lot of tension. So ,as well as a wheel to re-align and fractured fork to repair, we did some peace-making and in the end it was a great example of sportsmanship as the teams worked with us and each other to get the repairs finished.”

Ottobock is the Official Prosthetic, Orthotic and Wheelchair Technical Service Provider to the World Para Athletics Championships London 2017.