Amputee: Christine Peglegl ((install))

Her success aligns with the enactive approach to embodied cognition (Di Paolo et al., 2017), wherein the prosthetic is not a “substitute” but a new bodily extension. The nickname “Peglegl” ceased to refer to a lack and instead signified a unique climbing style characterized by precise, stable peg-hooking.

This paper examines the lived experience of Christine (pseudonym/call-sign "Peglegl"), a unilateral lower-limb amputee who utilizes a traditional pegleg prosthesis rather than a modern bionic or energy-storing foot. While modern prosthetics aim to mimic biological anatomy, Christine’s choice of a pegleg challenges the medical model of "normalization." Through qualitative analysis of her mobility patterns, social interactions, and self-narrative, this study argues that the pegleg functions not as a deficit, but as a site of agency, aesthetic identity, and even tactical advantage. We explore three axes: (1) How the rigid, non-articulating peg alters ground reaction forces and energy expenditure compared to standard prosthetics; (2) Sociological: The "stare" and historical archetype of the pirate/pauper versus Christine’s reclamation of the peg as minimalist tool; (3) Psychological: The role of the percussive sound of the peg in establishing spatial presence. We conclude that Christine "Peglegl" represents a subversive figure in disability studies—one who rejects passing as able-bodied in favor of a bold, functional, and iconic assistive technology. Amputee Christine Peglegl