Tokyo Paralympic Games: What do the classifications and classes mean at the Paralympics?

Lachlan McKirdy

Tokyo Paralympic Games: What do the classifications and classes mean at the Paralympics? image

The Paralympics begin on Tuesday, August 24 and it's a chance for some of the most extraordinary athletes in the world to get their moment in the spotlight. 

Throughout the almost fortnight of competition, athletes will compete in 22 different sports for a chance at Paralympic glory. 

Australia is sending a massive team to the Games which is set to be one of their most competitive ever. 

However, for those who have not watched the Paralympics before you may be confused by the different classes and classifications placed on each event. 

We've gone through all the details to help bring you up to speed and become a Paralympic expert for the next two weeks. 

All the following information has been repurposed from the International Paralympic Committee's explanatory guide to summer sport classification for 2020. 

Types of impairments

There are ten eligible impairments for athletes to compete at the Paralympic Games. 

  • Impaired Muscle Power - a condition that either reduces or eliminates the ability to voluntarily contract their muscles
  • Impaired Passive Range of Movement - A restriction or lack of passive movement in one or more joints
  • Limb Deficiency - A total or partial absence of bones or joints as a consequence of trauma, illness or congenital limb deficiency
  • Leg Length Difference - A difference in the length of their legs as a result of a disturbance of limb growth or as a result of trauma
  • Short Stature - A reduced length in the bones of the arms, legs and/or trunk. 
  • Hypertonia - an increase in muscle tension and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch caused by damage to the central nervous system.
  • Ataxia - Uncoordinated movements caused by damage to the central nervous system
  • Athetosis - Continual, slow involuntary movements. 
  • Vision Impairment (VI) - Athletes with a vision impairment have reduced or no vision. 
    • B1 - Clarity of vision is very low and/or they have no light perception
    • B2 - A better clarity of vision than B1 athletes and/or a visual field of fewer than 10 degrees diameter.
    • B3 - The least severe vision impairment and have a visual field of fewer than 40 degrees diameter.
  • Intellectual Impairment - A restriction in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour which affects conceptual social and practical adaptive skills for everyday life. The impairment must present before the age of 18.

Types of Sport Class and Classification

The sport class is the category that groups athletes depending on how much the impairment impacts their performance. It is not solely based on one impairment as people with different impairments can often compete in the same category. 

Each sport will often have its own level of classification which is why there is not one set of classes across the whole Paralympics. 

The below are the categories you will find in the different sports at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. 

Archery

  • W1 - Archers compete in a wheelchair as their impairment involves loss of leg/trunk function. Arms also show loss of muscle strength, coordination or range of movement.
  • Open - Archers may have an impairment and use a wheelchair or have a balance impairment. 

Athletics

In Athletics, sport classes will have a T or F prefix and a number. T stands for track and jumping events while F stands for field events. 

  • T11/F11 - T13/F13 - These classes are for vision impairment. T11/F11 is the equivalent to the B1 vision impairment (the most severe) and athletes are required to wear eyeshades. T12/F12 is the equivalent to B2 and T13/F13 is the equivalent to B3. 
  • T20/F20 - These classes are for athletes with an intellectual impairment. This can lead to difficulty with pattern recognition, sequencing and memory.
  • F31, T32/F32 - T38/F38 - These classes are for coordination impairments such as involuntary movements, uncoordinated movements and/or muscle tension. These are often conditions associated with cerebral palsy or traumatic brain injury. The 31-34 classes are usually in a seated position while the 35-38 classes have a better function. 
  • T40/F40, T41/F41 - These classes are for athletes with short stature. There are two classes depending on height with the 41 class having the taller athletes.
  • T42/F42 - T46/F46, T47 - These classes are designated for athletes with a limb deficiency who compete standing. Classes 42-44 are where the legs are affected while 45-47 are where the arms are affected. 
  • T61/F61-T64/F64 - Similar to the above category, the 60 classes are for athletes with leg deficiencies who compete with a prosthesis. 
  • T51-T54, F51-F57 - In the 50s classes, all athletes have impaired muscle power or range of movement. They all compete in a seated position and a lower number indicates a higher activity limitation. 

Badminton

  • Wheelchair 1 WH1 - Athletes require a wheelchair and usually have an impairment in both their legs and trunk. 
  • Wheelchair 2 WH2 - Athletes tend to have an impairment in one or both legs and minimal trunk impairment.
  • Standing Lower SL 3 & SL 4 - Athletes standing and could have some leg impairment or balance issues. SL 3 have a more severe impairment than SL 4. 
  • Standing Upper SU 5  - Athlete has an arm impairment.
  • Short Stature SH 6 - Athletes who have a short stature.

Boccia

  • BC1 - Severe activity limitation affecting legs, arms and trunk and usually depend on a powered wheelchair. 
  • BC2 - Have better trunk control and arm function than BC1 and are not eligible for assistance
  • BC3 - Significantly limited function in their arms and legs and poor or no trunk control. They use a ramp and other devices to help roll the ball. 
  • BC4  - Athletes that have impairments with no cerebral origin. Usually use a pendulum swing to throw the ball. 

Canoe

  • KL1-KL3 - In the Kayak, athletes have trunk and leg impairment, with KL1 the most severe level. 
  • VL1-VL3 - In the Va'a, VL1 has no dynamic trunk function and have no leg function, VL2 and VL3 are similar impairments but less extreme versions.

Cycling

  • H1-H5 - Five different classes for Handcycle with H1 being the most severe activity limitation. 
  • T1-T2 - Tricycle athletes are in two classes and can't ride a bicycle due to lack of balance or a restriction in pedalling. 
  • C1-C5 - This is for athletes who can use a standard bicycle (with approved adaptations) and are scaled in terms of the activity limitation with C1 being the most severe.
  • Tandem Sport Class B - Cyclists with a vision impairment race tandem with a pilot in front with B1, B2 and B3 athletes competing together in one event. 

Equestrian

  • Grade I - Severe impairments affecting all limbs and the trunk, require daily use of a wheelchair. 
  • Grade II - have either a severe impairment of the trunk and minimal impairment of the arms or moderate impairment of the trunk, arms and legs.
  • Grade III - have severe impairments in both legs with minimal or no impairment of the trunk or moderate impairment of the arms, legs and trunk.
  • Grade IV - have a severe impairment or deficiency of both arms or moderate impairment of all four limbs or short stature. Also includes athletes with vision impairment in the B1 class. 
  • Grade V -  mild impairment affecting the range of movement or muscle strength or a deficiency of one limb or a mild deficiency of two limbs as well as those with B2 vision impairment.

Rowing

  • PR1 - rowers with minimal or no trunk function who primarily propel the boat through arm and shoulder function and are strapped to the boat or seat.
  • PR2 - rowers that have functional use of their arms and trunk but have weakness/absence of leg function to slide the seat
  • PR3 - rowers with residual function in their legs which allows them to slide the seat as well as those with vision impairment.

Shooting

  • Sport Class SH1 (Pistol) - athletes support the full weight of the pistol themselves with one hand only. Athletes in this sport class have an impairment affecting one arm and/or the legs
  • Sport Class SH1 (Rifle) - athletes support the full weight of the rifle themselves with both hands. Athletes in this sport class have an impairment in their legs.
  • Sport Class SH2 (Rifle) - Athletes use a shooting stand to support the rifle as they have an impairment to their arms. 
  • Sport Class SG-S (Trap) - Athletes with poor balance and/or trunk stability compete from a wheelchair in a standard seated position
  • Sport Class SG-L (Trap) - Athletes with good balance and trunk function compete from a standing position.
  • Sport Class SG-U (Trap) - Athletes with good balance and trunk function compete from a standing position.
  • Sport Class SH-VI (Rifle)- VI-Shooting: athletes must have either clarity of vision above 1.1 logMAR or a contrast sensitivity poorer or equal to 1.4logCS.

Sitting Volleyball

  • VS1 - athletes have impairments that significantly affect the core functions in sitting volleyball.
  • VS2 - athletes have impairments that affect the core functions in sitting volleyball to a lesser degree.

Swimming

Sport class names in swimming have a prefix of either "S" or "SB" and are followed by a number. S stands for freestyle, butterfly or backstroke. SB stands for breaststroke. SM stands for individual medley. 

There are ten different sport classes for athletes with a physical impairment, numbered S1-S10. A lower number indicates a more severe activity limitation than a higher number.

In swimming, athletes with different impairments still compete against each other and are allocated based on a water assessment. The following are examples of some classes. 

  • S1 SB1 - Swimmers in this sport class have a significant loss of muscle power or control in their legs, arms and hands.
  • S2 SB1- Swimmers in this sport class mainly rely on their arms for swimming. 
  • S3 SB2 - This sport class includes athletes with amputations of both arms and legs.
  • S4 SB3 - Swimmers who can use their arms and have a fair function in their hands, but who cannot use their trunk or legs swim in this sport class. 
  • S5 SB4 - Swimmers with short stature and an additional impairment, with loss of control over one side of their body (hemiplegia) or with paraplegia, compete in this sport class.
  • S6 SB5 - This sport class includes swimmers with short stature or amputations of both arms or moderate coordination problems on one side of their body.
  • S7 SB6 - This sport class is for athletes with one leg and one arm amputation on opposite sides, or paralysis of one arm and one leg on the same side.
  • S8 SB7 - Swimmers who have an amputation of one arm are eligible to compete in this sport class.
  • S9 SB8 - Athletes in this sport class, for example, swim with joint restrictions in one leg or with double below-the-knee amputations.
  • S10 SB9 - This class describes minimal physical impairments of eligible swimmers. These include the loss of one hand or a movement restriction in one hip joint.
  • S/SB11-13 - Athletes with vision impairment compete in these classes ranging from most severe B1 = S/SB11, to least severe, B3 = S/SB13. 
  • S/SB14 - S14 swimmers have an intellectual impairment and show a higher number of strokes relative to their speed.

Table Tennis

  • Sitting Classes 1-5 - These athletes compete in a wheelchair with 1 having the most significant impairments. 
  • Standing Classes 6-10 - These athletes compete standing with 6 having the most significant impairments. 
  • Class 11 - These athletes have an intellectual impairment. 

Taekwondo

Taekwondo is separated into two disciplines, Kyorugi and Poomsae. Those competing in Kyorugi will have the 'K' prefix and Poomsae will have the 'P' prefix. 

  • Class K43 - Athletes have restrictions on both sides of their body in the arm, below the elbow joint
  • Class K44 - Athletes have restrictions on one side in the arm or leg

Triathlon

There are six different sport classes for athletes with physical impairments in triathlon that includes those athletes competing in a wheelchair.

  • Physical Impairment
    • PTWC1 & PTWC2 - The athletes in this class swim, cycle on a handbike and compete in a racing wheelchair for the run section. The two classes are different based on activity limitation and compete together in the event using a staggered starting time. 
  • Ambulant Para Triathletes
    • ​PTS2 - Athletes with a severe degree of activity limitation including limb deficiency or muscle tension. Conditions include severe cerebral palsy or above-knee amputation. In both the bike and run sections amputee athletes may use prostheses or other devices. 
    • PTS3 - Athletes with a significant degree of activity limitation, but less so than PTS2. 
    • PTS4 - Athletes with a moderate degree of activity limitation but less so than PTS3. 
    • PTS5 - Athletes with a mild degree of activity limitation such as below the elbow amputation of partial loss of arm muscle power. 
  • Vision Impairment - athletes with vision impairment are put into one of three classes from PTVI to PTVI3. PTVI is equivalent to B1 or the most severe degree of vision impairment, while PTVI3 is the most moderate. They all compete in the same event using a start interval system and will have a guide throughout the entire race.

Wheelchair Tennis

  • Open Division - Athletes are eligible to compete in the Open division if they have a permanent physical disability that results in substantial loss of function in one or both legs that meets or exceeds the sport’s minimum eligibility criteria.
  • Quad Division - Athletes who meet the eligibility criteria above but who also have a permanent physical disability that results in substantial loss of function in one or both arms, and where at least three limbs are affected.

Wheelchair Basketball

Wheelchair basketball athletes have one of eight sport classes from 1.0 to 4.5. All compete in a wheelchair and have an impairment affecting their legs. The main differences between the classes are their trunk control and sitting balance. Athletes can be placed in sport classes in between the following groups if their impairment fits the criteria (i.e. 1.5, 2.5 & 3.5). 

  • Sport Class 1.0 - Athletes have no trunk control and can't bend forward or sideways to catch and pass the ball. The backrest of the wheelchair is higher for stability and athletes are strapped in. 
  • Sport Class 2.0 - Athletes can fully rotate their bodies and have the ability to lean slightly to catch the ball in a larger area. Will also be strapped in and feature a high backing. 
  • Sport Class 3.0 - Athletes can fully rotate and lean forward but not to the sides. Overall their balance is better than those in 2.0 and will have a lower backrest. 
  • Sport Class 4.0 - Athletes have the ability to rotate and lean forward and sideways. 
  • Sport Class 4.5 - Athletes have no restriction in trunk rotation.

Wheelchair Fencing

At international Wheelchair Fencing events, Class 1A and 1B compete together in Category C, Class 2 competes alone in Category B and Class 3 & Class 4 compete together in Category A.

  • Class 1A - Athletes don't have sitting balance and have a restriction in the arm they use to fence. 
  • Class 1B - Same as 1A but the restriction in their arm is less severe.
  • Class 2 - Athletes have fair sitting balance and a normal fencing arm. 
  • Class 3 - Athletes have good sitting balance without the support of legs. 
  • Class 4 - Athletes with good sitting balance and have the support of legs. 

Wheelchair Rugby

There are seven different sport classes in wheelchair rugby ranging from 0.5 to 3.5. 

  • Sport Class 0.5 - Athletes have a significant impairment in their shoulder, arms and hand and typically catch the ball by scooping into their lap and throwing the ball with a two-handed flick pass. 
  • Sport Class 1.0 - Athletes have more balanced shoulder strength than the 0.5 class and are able to keep arms closer to their body. Don't often handle the ball as they usually have an impairment affecting their elbow, wrist and hand function.
  • Sport Class 1.5 - Athletes have fair arm function around the shoulders and hands. They will handle the ball more frequently. They may have asymmetrical arm function so will handle the ball with their stronger arm only.
  • Sport Class 2.0 - Athletes have stronger shoulders and more stability which makes pushing easier. However, there is often impairment in finger function which limits ball security.
  • Sport Class 2.5 - Athletes have good strength across their arms and have some trunk muscle control which improves balance. 
  • Sport Class 3.0 - Athletes have excellent strength across the arms and more trunk muscle control. For athletes with any neurological conditions, there may be some weakness evident in their fingers or thumbs.
  • Sport Class 3.5 - Athletes in the 3.5 class have excellent strength in arms and hands and are often the main playmakers. They can accelerate rapidly and have a high and upright sitting position. 

 

Lachlan McKirdy

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