The Paralympics classification system explained
KL3-VL3 – Athletes with full function of their trunk and partial function in the legs, able to sit with the trunk bent forwards in the kayak and use at least one leg.
Paracanoe
Open – Athletes with a lower limb impairment(s)
Wheelchair tennis
Open Class (recurve bows) – Archers shoot from a standing position at a distance of 70m at a 122cm target made up of 10 concentric circles scoring from 10 points down to one point from the centre outwards.
Para archery
Open Class (compound bows) – For archers with little strength in the arms. Archers shoot from a sitting position at a distance of 50m at an 80cm five-ring target made up of the 10-6 point bands.
Para archery
PR1 – Single sculls (for individual men and women) – reserved for rowers without trunk or leg function using two oars.
Para rowing
PR2 – Double sculls (mixed) – a team of two rowers (male and female) each of whom has two oars. Reserved for rowers who can only use their upper body to row and their seat is fixed so their legs remain straight.
Para rowing
PR3 – Coxed four (mixed) – a team of four rowers (two women and two men) and a coxswain, with each rower using one oar. Category for people using their arms, trunk, and legs, with a maximum of two visually impaired people in the boat.
Para rowing
PTWC 1-2 – Athletes with limitations in lower and upper limbs, using a handcycle for the cycling segment and a racing chair for the running segment. PTWC1 and PTWC2 compete in combined events, with an interval start system per sport class to ensure a level playing field.
Para triathlon
PTS 2-5 – Athletes with limitations in lower and/or upper limbs who do not require a handcycle for the cycling segment or a racing chair for the running segment. Assistive devices such as prosthetic legs and/or bike modifications are allowed.
Para triathlon
PTVI 1-3 – Athletes with vision impairment. Interval starts ensure a level playing field between partially sighted triathletes and blind triathletes competing with a guide.
Para triathlon
Quad – Athletes with both upper and lower limb impairments.
Wheelchair tennis
S1-10 – Athletes with a physical impairment who race in butterfly, backstroke and front crawl events. The greater the number, the less severe the athlete’s limitation.
Para swimming
SM1-10 – Athletes with physical impairments that affect their upper and/or lower limbs and trunk.
Para swimming
S / SB / SM11-13 – Athletes with a vision impairment. S11 swimmers have extremely low visual acuity and compete in blacked-out goggles to ensure fair competition, while S13 athletes have the least severe vision impairment. ‘SB’ refers to breaststroke, while ‘SM’ refers to multi-swimming events.
Para swimming
S / SB / SM14 – Athletes have an intellectual impairment. These swimmers have difficulties with regards to pattern recognition, sequencing and memory, or having a slower reaction time. ‘SB’ refers to breaststroke, while ‘SM’ refers to multi-swimming events.
Para swimming
SH1 – Athletes able to hold their gun without difficulty and shoot from a standing or sitting position (in a wheelchair or chair). SH1 athletes may use a pistol or a rifle.
Para shooting
SH2 – Athletes are unable to hold their rifle independently, so use a stand, but can aim by themselves and control the rifle when they shoot. Certain athletes may have an assistant to reload their gun.
Para shooting
SH6 – Athletes with short stature and standing athletes.
Para badminton
SL3 – Athletes competing standing with a lower limb impairment and balance problems walking or running
Para badminton
SL4 – Athletes competing standing with less severe impairment than in SL3. Athletes demonstrate lower limb impairment and minor balance problems walking or running.
Para badminton
SU5 – Athletes in this class have impairment of the upper limbs. The impairment could be on the playing or non-playing hand.
Para badminton
T1-2 – For athletes with cerebral palsy, neurological conditions or other athletes who are unable to ride a bike.
Para cycling
T11-13 – Athletes with a vision impairment. The ‘T’ in the classification stands for “track”, and the number indicates the level of impairment.
Para athletics, track events
T20 – Athletes with an intellectual impairment.
Para athletics, track events
T31-38 – Athletes with co-ordination impairments.
Para athletics, track events
T40-47 – Athletes with short stature, upper limb competing with prosthesis or equivalent, lower limb competing with prosthesis or equivalent
Para athletics, track events
T51-54 – Athletes who compete in wheelchair races. Athletes in this class have disabilities such as limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power, or impaired passive range of movement.
Para athletics, track events
TT1-5 – Wheelchair athletes. TT1 players have a high degree in the trunk and legs and to a moderate level in the shoulders and arms, while TT5 players have leg movement affected to a high degree, or the absence of limbs.
Para table tennis
TT6-10 – For standing athletes with coordination moderately affected in the arms and legs and potentially also the body, or the absence of limbs.
Para table tennis
TT11 – For athletes with intellectual impairments.
Para table tennis
VI – For athletes who are blind or vision impaired who compete with a sighted pilot on a tandem bike.
Para cycling
KL1-VL1 – Athletes with no or extremely limited trunk function and no function in the legs.
Paracanoe
KL2-VL2 – Athletes with partial leg and trunk function, able to sit up straight in the kayak but may require a high-backed seat.
Paracanoe
KL3-VL3 – Athletes with full function of their trunk and partial function in the legs, able to sit with the trunk bent forwards in the kayak and use at least one leg.
Paracanoe
VS1-2 – Players have a physical impairment in one or several upper or lower limbs. VS2 athletes with a less severe impairment.
Sitting volleyball
W1 – quadriplegic archers with an impairment in the lower limbs, trunk and one arm shoot from 50m at a 10-band 80cm target. Archers use compound bows limited to 45lbs in draw weight and without magnifying sights.
Para archery
WH1 – Athletes using a wheelchair with severely impaired leg and trunk function.
Para badminton
WH2 – Athletes using a wheelchair with minor impairments to leg and trunk function.
Para badminton
Information sourced from here: https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/paralympic-games/paralympic-classification