Para triathlon

Para triathlon is a World Triathlon event that is conducted at the World Championships and made its first appearance at the Paralympic Games at Rio 2016.

While people with disabilities may participate in all forms of triathlon, from enticer to long course events, para triathlon is conducted over a sprint distance for individual competition. Athletes swim 750 metres, followed by 20 kilometres of cycling (or handcycle) and 5 kilometres of running (or track chair). Depending on an athlete’s classification, they may use a handcycle and a track chair, a tandem bike and sighted guide or standard equipment. Some athletes may require the use of leg or arm prostheses, however adaptive equipment is not permitted during the swim.

Para triathlon events are held annually in Australia and internationally with the number of events increasing year-on-year. As well as the World Championships, there is the World Para triathlon Series, World Triathlon Para Cups, Oceania Para triathlon Championships and the Australian Para triathlon Championships. In October 2024, the first-ever World Triathlon Para Mixed Relay Championships will be held.

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Eligibility & Classification Explained

Eligibility

Para triathlon is open to athletes with a physical or vision impairment. Athletes are required to submit medical reports and meet the minimum impairment criteria in order to compete.

Classification explained

Athlete classification is a defining feature of Para-sport, which forms the competitive structure of Para-sport competition from entry level competition through to the Paralympic Games.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athlete Classification Code and IPC Classification Standards (collectively referred to as the IPC Code) is the fundamental document on which classification in the Paralympic movement is based.

In accordance with the IPC Code, classification in Para-sport:

  1. defines who is eligible to compete in Para-sport; and
  2. groups athletes into sport classes according to how much their impairment affects fundamental activities in each specific sport or discipline.

The classification processes of each Para-sport share common features; however, the classification process is sport-specific. Further information is available in the AusTriathlon Athlete Classification Policy

Para triathlon Classifications

Letter: PTWC (= Para Triathlon Wheelchair) / PTS (= Para Triathlon Standing) / PTVI (= Para Triathlon Vision Impaired)

Number: PTWC 1-2 / PTS 2-5 / PTVI 1-3

There are nine sport classes in Para triathlon that compete in six medal events:

  • PTWC1 – Most impaired wheelchair users. Athletes must use a recumbent handcycle on the bike course and a racing wheelchair on the run segment; Includes athletes with comparable activity limitation and an impairment of, but not limited to:  muscle power, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia or athetosis.
  • PTWC2 – Least impaired wheelchair users. Athletes must use a recumbent handcycle on the bike course and a racing wheelchair on the run segment; Includes athletes with comparable activity limitation and an impairment of, but not limited to:  muscle power, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia or athetosis.
  • PTS2 – Severe impairments. In both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices. Includes athletes with comparable activity limitation and an impairment of, but not limited to, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia and or athetosis, impaired muscle power or range of movement.
  • PTS3 – Significant impairments. In both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices. Includes athletes with comparable activity limitation and an impairment of, but not limited to, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia and or athetosis, impaired muscle power or range of movement.
  • PTS4 – Moderate impairments. In both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices. Includes athletes with comparable activity limitation and an impairment of, but not limited to, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia and or athetosis, impaired muscle power or range of movement.
  • PTS5 – Mild impairments. In both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices. Includes athletes with comparable activity limitation and an impairment of, but not limited to, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia and or athetosis, impaired muscle power or range of movement..
  • PTVI1 – Includes athletes who are totally blind, from no light perception in either eye, to some light perception. One guide is mandatory throughout the race. Must ride a tandem during the bike segment. A guide from the same nationality and gender is mandatory throughout the race. Must ride a tandem during the bike segment.
  • PTVI2 – Includes athletes who are more severe partially sighted athletes. One guide is mandatory throughout the race. Must ride a tandem during the bike segment. A guide from the same nationality and gender is mandatory throughout the race. Must ride a tandem during the bike segment.
  • PTVI3 – Includes athletes who are less severe partially sighted athletes. One guide is mandatory throughout the race. Must ride a tandem during the bike segment. A guide from the same nationality and gender is mandatory throughout the race. Must ride a tandem during the bike segment.

Both PTWC1 and PTWC2 classes compete in the same PTWC Medal Event. All the ambulant classes (PTS2-PTS5) compete in their own medal event and the three visual impaired classes (PTVI1, PTVI2 and PTVI3) compete in the PTVI medal event.

How to Get Classified

Athletes interested in getting classified are invited to attend an AusTriathlon classification session.

To register your interest in an upcoming session, please contact AusTriathlon at classification@triathlon.org.au

Upcoming Sessions

Session information will be published here when details become available. 

PTVI Athletes & Guides

Paralympics Australia manages the National Classification Program for Vision Impairment.

If you have a vision impairment (VI) and would like to start the process of getting a VI classification, please complete the request for classification form.

Classification Resources

You can view all of these resources by selecting Classification from the sub-menu of our Performance Resources page.

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