Paratriathlon
The paratriathlon is yet another variation of the traditional triathlon of swim, bike, and run. This event in particular is designed for athletes with physical disabilities. The event involves a 750 m swim, a 20 km bike with handcycles, bicycles or tandems with a guide, and a 5 km wheelchair or running race.
The athletes compete in categories based on their physical disabilities. As of 2013, there are seven different classes. TRI-1: wheelchair user; TRI-2: Severe leg impairment with above knee amputation; Tri-3: Les Autres, (e.g. athletes with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, double leg amputation, or paralysis of the limbs); TRI-4: Arm impairments; TRI-5: Moderate leg impairment with amputation below the knee; TRI-6: Visual Impairment.
In order to fairly judge athletes in the event, a points system is used for sitting, standing or visually impaired classes.
Wheelchair athleteThe International Triathlon Union (ITU) governs the sport. There is an annual Triathlon World Championships hosted by the ITU. Paratriathlon was first held at the Paralympics as an official event in the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Interesting Fact: Those who are visually impaired compete in the bike stag of the paratriathlon with a guide in the front.
Similar Sports
- Triathlon — a race consisting of three events, usually swimming, cycling, and running in consecutive order.
- Wheelchair Racing — a type of racing in which athletes with physical disabilities compete with the help of a wheelchair.
- Para-Cycling — cycle racing events using adaptations for disabled athletes, such as tandem bikes and hand-cycling.
- Indoor Triathlon — swimming in an indoor pool, cycling on a stationary bike, and running on an indoor track or treadmill.
Related Pages
- list of disabled sports
- paratriathlon at the Paralympics
- Complete list of sports
- The Encyclopedia of Sports
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