Starting classes

In disability sports, classifications enable athletic performance measurement by matching up athletes with the same or similar disabilities for competitions. Weight classes in the martial arts (boxing, judo, wrestling, etc.) are also based on this principle. There are five basic disability classes:

Blind or visually impaired individuals (T/F11-13)
Mentally disabled people (T/F20)
Spastics (T/F32-38)
Amputees and other disabilities (F40; T/F42-46)
Wheelchair users with spinal cord damage (T51-54; F51-58)

The letter “T” stands for “track” and includes running and driving competitions. “F” stands for “field” and includes throwing and putting competitions as well as high-jump and long-jump events.

The ParalympicChallenge features the following starting classes:

Blind or visually impaired individuals

Amputees and other disabilities

Wheelchair users (driving sports)

T/F12

Maximum residual vision of 2/60 (3.3%) and/or field of vision limited no more than 5 degrees

T/F42

Transfemoral loss and restrictions similar to transfemoral loss

T53

paraplegics with poor functioning of the torso

T/F13

Maximum residual vision of 6/60 (10%)/or field of vision limited between 5 and 20 degrees maximum.

T/F44

Loss of both transtibials, loss of transtibial and forefoot Loss of both forefeet and restrictions similar to loss of both forefeet Loss of transtibial, stiffening of the knees (no flexibility), loss of forefoot and similar limitations

T54

paraplegics with good functioning of the torso

T/F46

Loss of both upper arms, loss of both the upper and lower arm Loss of both upper arms and similar limitations Loss of upper arm, loss of lower arm and similar limitations