UPDATED MARCH 2014

People with disabilities currently participate in all forms of triathlon, from full ironman to mini and taster events. Classification is only required for people with disabilities to participate in identified National Paratriathlon Events and ITU Paratriathlon competitions. Classification is NOT required for participation in other triathlon events.

To ensure competition is fair and equal, all Paralympic sports have a system in place which ensures that winning is determined by skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus, the same factors that account for success in sport for able bodied athletes. This process is called classification and its purpose is to minimise the impact of impairments on the activity (sport discipline). Having the impairment thus is not sufficient. The impact on the sport must be proved, and in each Paralympic sport, the criteria of grouping athletes by the degree of activity limitation resulting from the impairment are named ‘Sport Classes’.

Through classification, it is determined which athletes are eligible to compete in a sport and how athletes are grouped together for competition. This, to a certain extent, is similar to grouping athletes by age, gender or weight.

Classification is sport-specific because an impairment affects the ability to perform in different sports to a different extent. As a consequence, an athlete may meet the criteria in one sport, but may not meet the criteria in another sport.

Paratriathlon Sport Classes (categories):

In 2014 the ITU Paratriathlon has implemented an evidence-based classification system to group impairments into sport classes according to the extent of activity limitation they cause the athlete when performing in the sport of paratriathlon.

The recognized types of impairment by the ITU are:

Impairment Type Examples of Health Conditions that may cause such impairment

Impaired muscle power Spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, brachial plexus injury, Erbs palsy, polio, spina bifida, Guillian – Barre syndrome.

Impaired passive range of movement

Ankylosis, arthrogryposis, post burns joint contractures. Does not include hypermobility of joints.

Limb deficiency Amputation resulting from trauma or congenital limb deficiency (dysmelia).

Hypertonia Cerebral palsy, brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis.

Ataxia Cerebral palsy, brain injury,multiple sclerosis, Friedrichs ataxia, spincerebellar ataxia.

Athetosis Cerebral palsy, stroke, brain injury.

Vision Impairment Myopia, tunnel vision, scotoma, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, macular degeneration, congenital cataract.

The five sport classes are as follows:

PT1 - Wheelchair users. Includes athletes with comparable activity limitationand an impairment of, but not limited to: muscle power, limb deficiency,hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis that prevent the ability to safely ride aconventional bike and run. Through classification assessment, athletes musthave a score of up to 640,0 points. Athletes must use a recumbent handcycleon the bike course and a racing wheelchair on the run segment.

PT2 - Includes athletes with comparable activity limitation and an impairmentof, but not limited to, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia and or athetosis,impaired muscle power or range of movement that through classificationassessment have a score of up to 454,9 points. In both bike and run segments,amputee athletes may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices.

PT3 - Includes athletes with comparable activity limitation and an impairmentof, but not limited to, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia and or athetosis,impaired muscle power or range of movement that through classificationassessment have a score from 455,0 to 494,9 points. In both bike and runsegments, the athlete may use approved prosthesis or other supportivedevices.

PT4 – Includes athletes with comparable activity limitation and an impairmentof, but not limited to, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia and or athetosis,impaired muscle power or range of movement that through classificationassessment have a score from 495,0 to 557,0 points included. In both bike andrun segments, the athlete may use approved prosthesis or other supportivedevices.

PT5 - Total or Partial visual Impairment (IBSA/IPC defined sub-classes B1, B2,and B3): Includes athletes who are totally blind, from no light perception ineither eye, to some light perception but unable to recognize the shape of ahand at any distance or in any direction (B1) and partially sighted athletes witha visual acuity of less than 6/60 vision or visual field less than 20 degrees withbest corrective vision (B2-B3). One guide is mandatory throughout the race.Must ride a tandem during the bike segment.

Athlete evaluation

When an athlete first starts competing he/she undergoes a process to verify the above criteria are met. This process is conducted by a classification panel, a group of individuals authorized and certified by a Sport Federation to determine the sport class of an athlete. The process (typically) includes:

the verification of the presence of an eligible impairment for that sport physical and technical assessment to exam the degree of activity limitation the allocation of a sport class the observation in competition

When undergoing athlete evaluation, an athlete is only classified for one sport. If an athlete is not eligible to compete in a sport, this does not question the presence of a genuine impairment. It means:

that the athlete does not have a primary impairment that makes him/her eligible to compete in that particular sport, or

that the severity of the impairment does not significantly impact on the activities required in that particular sport.

Due to the progressive nature of some impairment and their impact on certain activities, athletes are sometimes classified a number of times throughout their career. When the medical condition of an athlete changes, he/she needs to inform the sport as well and ask for re-assessment.

To compete at international level, an athlete must be classified by an International Classification Panel and their decision overrules any previous classification decision taken by a national classification panel.

Classification and Classifiers for Paratriathlon in Australia

Classification of paratriathletes is performed by classifiers who have been trained in accordance with the ITU’s guidelines and these classifiers can only classify athletes for the sport of triathlon. To be accepted for training potential classifiers must usually have extensive experience in triathlon and be either a registered physiotherapist or have a sports science or sports medicine background.

Training for classifiers and the classification of paratriathletes will next be conducted in Australia in January 2015. There will also be additional classification opportunities announced with the 2015 National Paratriathlon Calendar.

Athletes who would like to be classified or for potential classifiers to register interest in being considered for training as a paratriathlon classifier please email the National Manager Paratriathlon, Kathryn Periac Kathryn.periac@triathlon.org.au

CLASSIFICATION IN IRONMAN & IRONMAN 70.3 Event Categories

As an international series of events, Ironman brand events are run and governed by a combination of the local Triathlon Federation rules and those established by Ironman Events (WTC). Currently Ironman events do not use the ITU classification system for people with disabilities, and instead conduct competition in just two divisions. These are:

HC – Handcycle & Track chairPC – Physically challenged

For all event information including division/category, equipment, handlers, qualification, rules, events and selection in relation to an IRONMAN or 70.3 brand event, please consult with IRONMAN ASIA-PACIFIC (create link) or search for “IRONMAN World Championships Qualification” at IRONMAN.COM

IRONMAN Cairns is currently the Ironman Asia-Pacific region Handcycle division qualifying race for the IRONMAN World Championships, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.