For field events, the group of wheelchair athletes compete in more differentiated classes. Athletes in sport classes F have limited shoulder, arm and hand function to different degrees and usually no trunk or leg function. This profile is, for example, seen with athletes with spinal cord injury resulting in tetraplegia.
Athletes in the class F54 have normal function in their shoulders, arms and hands, but generally no trunk or leg function. Throughout the sport classes F the trunk and leg function increases, which is an advantage in throwing events. An athlete in the F55 class has partial to full abdominal muscle activity, but no leg function.
Athletes in class F56 can partially bend their hips and legs in addition to having trunk function, while athletes in class F57 demonstrate the additional ability to extend and abduct the hips. Athletes in class F57 may be able to stand and walk with or without an assistive device, but have to at the very least comply with the defined minimum impairment criteria. Wheelchair 1 WH 1 - Players in this class requires a wheelchair to play badminton.
Players in this Sport Class usually have an impairment in both their legs and trunk. Wheelchair 2 WH 2 - A player in this class could have an impairment in one or both legs and minimal or no impairment of the trunk.
Standing lower SL 3 - In this class a player must play standing. There are four sport classes in boccia, BC All players compete in wheelchairs due to a loss of leg function and trunk stability, caused by a lack of muscle coordination, muscle power and control. BC1 - Athletes in sport class BC1 have severe activity limitations affecting their legs, arms and trunk due to co-ordination impairments, and are typically dependent on a powered wheelchair.
They can grasp and throw the ball and do not use assistive devices. Athletes with some leg control are allowed to propel the ball with their foot. The abilities of their arms and hands often allow them to throw the ball overhand and underhand and with a variety of grasps. They are not eligible for assistance. BC3 - Athletes competing in sport class BC3 have significantly limited function in their arms and legs, and poor or no trunk control due to cerebral or non-cerebral origins.
Besides, they are unable to consistently grasp or release the ball and to help them propel the ball onto the court, they use a ramp and other assistive devices to roll the ball with the help of a Sport Assistant. BC4 - While the sport classes BC include athletes with muscle tension, involuntary movements or uncoordinated movements, sport class BC4 comprises athletes with impairments that have no cerebral origin.
Among possible health conditions are progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass muscular dystrophy , spinal cord Injuries or amputations affecting all four limbs.
Players throw the ball usually with a pendulum swing, sometimes using both hands or arms. They may use a glove to sustain their grip of the ball. These athletes all have a physical impairment. KL1 - Athletes in this sports class have very limited trunk and no leg function. KL2 - Athletes in this sports class have partial trunk and leg function; they are able to sit upright in the kayak.
Along with this, they will have limited leg movement during paddling. These athletes should also not have any leg function. VL3 - This class will include the athletes with full dynamic trunk function or almost full dynamic trunk function. Athletes with physical impairments either compete on handcycles, tricycles or bicycles. Handcycle sport classes: H1-H5 - There are five different sport classes for handcycle, and lower numbers indicate a more severe activity limitation.
Athletes classified in handcycle classes H compete on a hand bike where a reclining position is mandatory. Athletes competing in the H1 class do not have any trunk and leg function and have limited arm function, e. Athletes in the H4 class have no leg function but good trunk and arm function. Athletes classified in the Handcycle class H5 compete from a kneeling position HK and can thus use their arms and trunk to accelerate the handcycle. Athletes in this sport class might have leg amputations, paraplegia or mild to moderate involuntary movements or uncoordinated movements.
The sport class T1 is allocated to athletes with more significant balance, co-ordination impairments and problems controlling movements than athletes competing in sport class T2.
Cycling sport classes: C1-C5 - Athletes who are able to use a standard bicycle with approved adaptations compete in the five sport classes C The sport class profiles include athletes with limb deficiency, impaired muscle power or range of motion and impairments affecting co-ordination, such as uncoordinated movements and involuntary movements.
Sport class C1 is allocated to athletes with the most severe activity limitation, while the sport class C5 is allocated to athletes with minimum impairments. For example, cyclists with a double below-the-knee amputation who use a prosthesis are likely to compete in the sport class C3, while an athlete with a below knee amputation and a prosthesis on one leg would compete in the sport class C4. Tandem sport classes: TB - Cyclists with a vision impairment race tandem with a sighted cycler pilot in front.
Cyclists in this sport class must meet the criteria as set out in the B3 profile described in section 4 to compete, therefore B1, B2 and B3 athletes compete together in one event. In Para equestrian dressage riding there are five grades for athletes with different physical and vision impairments which are grouped on the basis of different medical profiles. Lower grades indicate more severe activity limitations and higher grades include athletes with less severe activity limitations.
Grade I - Athletes in grade I have severe impairments affecting all limbs and the trunk. The athlete usually requires the use of a wheelchair in daily life. They may be able to walk with an unsteady gait. Trunk and balance are severely impaired. Profiles: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 12a, Grade II - Athletes in grade II have either a severe impairment of the trunk and minimal impairment of the arms or moderate impairment of the trunk, arms and legs.
Most athletes in this grade use a wheelchair in daily life. Profiles: 4, 6, 9, 10a, 11a, 12b, 31a. Grade III - Athletes in grade III have severe impairments in both legs with minimal or no impairment of the trunk or moderate impairment of the arms, legs and trunk. Some athletes in this grade may use a wheelchair in daily life. Profiles: 8, 10b, 11b, 14, 17a, 18a, 27, 31b, Grade IV - Athletes in grade IV have a severe impairment or deficiency of both arms or a moderate impairment of all four limbs or short stature.
Athletes in grade IV are able to walk and generally do not require a wheelchair in daily life. Grade IV also includes athletes with a vision impairment. Profiles: 15, 17b, 18b, 19a, 21, 25, 26a, 28, Grade V - Athletes in Grade V have a mild impairment affecting the range of movement or muscle strength or a deficiency of one limb or a mild deficiency of two limbs.
Grade V also includes athletes with a vision impairment. Profiles: 16, 19b, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26b, 37a. Only athletes who have a B1 sport class may compete in football 5-aside. Classifications are indicated by the letters S freestyle, butterfly, and backstroke , SM indonesia and SB breaststroke followed by a number. S1 to S10 are for the Paralympians with a physical disability, S11 to S13 for a visual impairment and S14 is for swimmers with an intellectual disability.
To qualify for a classification, you as an athlete will be put through a major mill. First of all, it is determined whether you meet one of the ten recognized restrictions, and if so, it is checked whether you meet the criteria of a certain classification. On the basis of inspections, analyzes and checks of data, athletes are or are not classified in a class. However, assigning the classifications is not always a bed of roses. The whole system occasionally generates a lot of discussion and since the rules and requirements sometimes change, it may just be that a certain classification disappears from the list and an athlete is suddenly excluded from participation.
Related Articles. Many people confuse the Special Olympics, which is for people with an intellectual disability, with the Paralympics. Intellectually disabled athletes can compete in the Paralympics but only if they meet exacting standards. The Paralympics is an elite competition, while the emphasis in the Special Olympics is on participation.
Swimming is one of the few disciplines that mix the disabilities. Swimming categories are based on degrees of impairment and are graded 1 to 10, one being the most impaired and 10 being the least; hence a cerebral palsy athlete might find themselves up against an amputee in the pool. British swimmer Ellie Simmonds, who is the face of the games, competes in the S6 S for swimming category because she has full use of her limbs but is abnormally short at just 1.
Ophthalmologists, for instance, would be involved as classifers in determining the extent of blindness for athletes. Inevitably there are individual athletes and national paralympic associations that will look for an advantage by underplaying disabilities to get an easier category.
And so Rivard did not just win bronze in the 50m freestyle — she won in the S10 category. Classification can also be broken down by discipline: S indicates freestyle, butterfly and backstroke; SB is breaststroke; and SM represents individual medley. Other sports follow similar methods as well. A variety of newsletters you'll love, delivered straight to you. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses.
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