Paralympic athletics

Kenny van Weeghel in his racing chair at the 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships

Paralympic athletics is a disabled sport practiced by athletes with a physical disability who have competed at separate international events since 1952. It is governed by the International Paralympic Committee through its World Para Athletics subcommittee, and has been one of the sports at the Summer Paralympic Games since 1960.[1][2]

Rules for the sport are adapted from those set forth by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The majority of rules for Paralympic athletics are the same as those for able-bodied competitions.

Classification

Timothée Adolphe and his sighted guide Cédric Felip

Competitors at elite level competitions are classified by disability, to arrange athletes with a similar disability in the same event. A classified T12 athlete for example, is a track athlete with a visual impairment.

In wheelchair racing, athletes compete in lightweight racing chairs. Most major marathons have wheelchair divisions and the elite racers consistently beat the runners on foot.

Events

Paralympic athletes compete in the following events. Note that not all events may feature at a particular tournament, and not all events may be open to all classifications:

Track Road Field Combined events
Sprints Middle-distance Long-distance Relays Jumps Throws
100 m
200 m
400 m		 800 m
1500 m		 5000 m
10,000 m		 4×100 m relay
4×400 m relay		 Marathon Long jump
Triple jump
High jump		 Shot put
Discus throw
Javelin throw
Club throw		 Pentathlon

See also

References

  1. ↑ Para- Athletics – History, Athletics Canada
  2. ↑ About the Sport, IPC Athletics
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