The key to victory
Simple tool vital for para-athletes at Commonwealth Games
A 4mm allen key will keep para-athletes primed and ready to compete in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.
Well that, along with years of hard work, dedication and a team of 25 highly skilled prosthetic, orthotic and wheelchair repairers.
“Surprisingly, most of the work I do is with an allen key,” said Greg Strachan, business unit manager for prosthetics for German company Ottobock, who has been working with prosthesis for 21 years.
“For most mechanical prosthetic limbs we use simple tools.”
Mr Strachan, a Burleigh local, will support the paraathletes with free repairs and services to prosthesis, orthoses and wheelchairs throughout the competition.
He will be part of a team of repairers in the main Games village. There will also be mobile workshops at the venues solving technical issues for para-athletes around the clock.
Mr Strachan said it was the combination of working with people and technology that drew him to the “rewarding” career.
“I love the technical aspect of working with hydraulics, mechanics and devices and working with people to get that really positive outcome,” he said. “Everyone leaves with a smile on their face.”
Mr Strachan said pieces ranged from the “retail” variety costing $15,000 for a simple, mechanical prosthesis to upwards of $150,000 for computerised systems for walking, running, and swimming.
Managing Director of Ottobock Thomas Much, who has worked in the industry for 30 years, said he had seen huge advancements in the technology used by para-athletes.
“The technology has to be sophisticated and we have to guarantee it always functions otherwise it could end up in a fall and could be fatal,” he said. “So all the products are handmade and maintained.”
He said the “intuitive” technology was intended to simulate normal “brain to limb” processes which could see disabled athletes integrate with able-bodied competitors in future competitions.
“That’s how it should be,” he said. “In everyday life disabled people integrate with able-bodied people so why can’t we see that in competitive sport? That is our aim.”