Categories

The six categories are as follows:

  • TRI 1 - Wheelchair user: Includes Paraplegic, Quadriplegic, Polio, Double Leg Amputee and disabilities that prevent the safe use of a conventional bicycle Must use “hand cycle” on bike course and “racing wheelchair” on the run.
  • TRI 2 - Severe leg impairment,including above knee amputees. Must ride bicycle and run with above knee prosthesis or run using crutches.
  • TRI 3 - Les Autres: Includes athletes with Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, double leg amputee or paralysis in multiple limbs. Must ride a bicycle or tricycle and run. May use braces or prosthesis.
  • TRI 4 - Arm impairment:  Includes paralysis, above elbow amputees and below elbow amputees, or impairment in both upper limbs. Must ride a bike. May use prosthesis, brace or sling on the bike and/or run.
  • TRI 5 - Moderate leg impairment: Includes below-knee amputees.  Must ride a bicycle and may run with prosthesis.
  • TRI 6 - Visual Impairment: Includes avisual acuity of less than 6/60 vision or visual field less than 40 degrees with best corrective vision. One guide of the same gender is mandatory throughout the race.

ITU has initiated a Research Project in Paratriathlon in order to obtain scientific data that can help define an evidence-based classification system. This project has engaged a number of researchers and members of ITU Paratriathlon Committee and staff. Initial steps have been to collect and analyze existing research papers related to the three sports (IPC Swimming, UCI Paracycling and IPC Athletics). The next steps will be to define the eligible types of impairment and the minimum impairment criteria as well as redesigning the scorecard and identifying the key movements in paratriathlon and the relation of impairments according to the extent of activity limitation they cause. Parallel research on more specific aspects for athletes with CP and Visual Impairments are also scoped in the activities to be carried out through the next months.