What Are The Paralympic Classifications & Categories?

In the Paralympics, each athlete has a Classification based on their impairment. In their event, they are placed in different Categories to ensure that athletes with comparable abilities compete against each other. 

The Paralympics has 10 classifications for eligible impairments. Each category is made up of a letter which is specific to the sport, and then a number. Each sport has their own way of determining abilities and how that affects their competition. 

In Para Athletics, each athlete is placed within their own category so it means that there are numerous races held over the common distances at the Paralympics. For example, the men’s 1500m has six individual races for the following categories: T11, T13, T20, T38, T46 and T54.

But what do the letters and numbers mean?

WHAT’S THE PARA ATHLETIC CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM?

In Para Athletics, the Classification system is a letter and two numbers. 

• The letter is either T or F, signifying Track or Field
• The first number identifies the category of impairment (e.g. 1 is visual impairment, 5 is for wheelchair athletes)
• The second number identifies the severity, with 1 being the greatest impairment and 8 being the mildest. 

The Para Athletic categories are as follows. 

• 11-13. Athletes with visual impairment. 11 is the most severe, down to 13 which has more field of vision. Athletes may be assisted by guides
• 20. Athletes with a learning disability
• 33-34. Wheelchair athletes with cerebral palsy (or other similar neurological conditions and coordination impairments)
• 35-38. Athletes with cerebral palsy (or other similar neurological conditions and coordination impairments) who are able to run
• 40-41. Athletes of short stature (athletes in 40 are shorter than 41)
• 42-44. Athletes with lower limb impairments, competing without a prosthesis
• 45-47. Athletes with upper limb impairments
• 51-58. Wheelchair athletes with different levels of spinal injuries and amputations (in the track categories the classification is T51-54)
• 61-64. Athletes with lower limb impairments who compete with a prosthesis

See the classifications for all other sports at the Paralympics here.

WHAT PARA ATHLETIC RACES TAKE PLACE AT THE PARIS 2024 PARALYMPICS?

On the track, each race distance has a number of classifications, though there isn’t a race for every category. 

For example, in the men’s 100m, there are 16 classifications, so 16 gold medals are available. In the marathons there are just two classifications (T12 and T54). 

One unique race which takes place on the track is the 4x100m universal relay which creates a team with four distinct impairments. Each team is two men and two women, and the handover is done by touch, not a baton. The four impairments are always in the same order: a visually impaired athlete, an amputee, a runner with cerebral palsy and a wheelchair athlete. 

Check out the full track schedule for the Paris 2024 Paralympics here!

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Image from the Australian Paralympic Committee