Para-triathlon

Eligible impairment types:

Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement
Limb deficiency
Athetosis
Hypertonia
Ataxia
Visual impairment

Sport classes

In Para-triathlon there are four different sport classes for athletes with physical impairment, numbered one to four. There is one fifth sport class for athletes with vision impairment named PT5.

In one sport class you can find athletes with different impairment types and severity, compete against each other. As a general principle, the impact of impairment on the performance within one class is similar. The reason being that sport classes are allocated based on the impact the impairment has on triathlon rather than on the impairment itself.

To evaluate the impact of impairments on triathlon, classifiers assess all functional body structures through a physical and technical assessment using a point system and a weighing factor for each discipline of the sport (swimming, cycling and running). The total score determines the athlete’s sport class.

PT1 (Wheelchair user Para-triathletes)

Para-triathletes in this class swim, cycle on a handbike and compete in a racing wheelchair for the run section. This class includes athletes with, but not limited to, impairments of muscle power, range of movement, limb deficiency such as unilateral or double leg amputation, spinal cord injuries resulting in paraplegia or tetraplegia, etc.

PT2-4 (Ambulant Para-triathletes)

Para-triathletes in this sport class swim, cycle on a conventional bike with or without approved adaptations and run with or without the use of an approved prosthesis and/or supportive devices and can fall into 3 different sport classes. These sport classes include but are not limited to Para-triathletes with impairment of muscle power, range of movement, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis.

PT2

This sport class includes athletes with a severe degree of activity limitation such as, but not limited to, unilateral above knee amputees, double below knee amputee, athletes with a significant combined upper and lower limb muscle power limitation or severe neurological impairment such as congenital hemiplegia, severe cerebral palsy, etc.

PT3

This sport class includes athletes with a moderate degree of activity limitation such as athletes with, but not limited to, a through the shoulder amputation, complete loss of range of motion in one arm, athletes with a moderate combined upper and lower limb loss of muscle power or moderate neurological impairments such as ataxia or athetosis.

PT4

This sport class includes athletes with a mild degree of activity limitation such as athletes with, but not limited to, a below the elbow arm amputation, below the knee amputation, partial loss of arm muscle power, lower limb deficiency or mild neurological impairments such as ataxia or athetosis.

PT5 athletes with visual impairment

Para-triathletes in this sport class swim, ride a tandem cycle and run with a guide and need only meet the criteria as set out in the B1 sport classes as described here. Therefore B1, B2 and B3 athletes compete together in one event.