Back To Paralympic Sports
Para-athletics has been contested at the Paralympic Games since the first Paralympic Games in Rome, Italy, in 1960.
Events are open to male and female athletes in all impairment groups eligible for Paralympic sport. Athletes compete according to their functional classifications in each event, with events continually being redefined to include as many athletes as possible.
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Athletes race over 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m and 10000m. 4x100m and 4x400m relays, marathons, club throw, discus, high jump, javelin, long jump, shot put and triple jump are also contested.
Who is eligible to compete in Para-athletics?
Athletes with a physical, vision or intellectual impairment
What are the classes?
Athletes are given classifications with the prefix ‘T’ for track events and ‘F’ for field events. They are also assigned a number that represents their level of functional ability.
Athletes with a physical impairment are represented in the classes T/F 31-38, 40-47, 51-54 and 55-57, athletes with a vision impairment in the classes T/F 11-13, and athletes with an intellectual impairment in the classes T/F 20.
For more information, click here.
How do I get classified?
Click here for information.
Classification master list
Athletics Australia manages the national classification master list for Para-athletics. It includes athletes who have been classified according to World Para-athletics Classification Rules and Regulations, or Paralympics Australia’s and Athletics Australia’s classification policies.
Click here to view the master list.
Most Para-athletics disciplines, including discus, javelin, shot put and wheelchair racing, require specific sport equipment. Additionally, athletes may use assistive devices including prosthetics, rope tethers and acoustic devices.
The prosthetics used have been specifically developed to withstand the demands of competition. Leg prostheses are required in track events, but in field events they are optional.
Rope tethers and other similar devices may be used by runners with a vision impairment to link them to their sighted guides, and acoustic devices (or a sighted ‘caller’) may be used to indicate throwing targets, take-off in jumping events, etc.
For more information, click here.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 26 |
| 2012 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 27 |
| 2008 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 26 |
| 2004 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 32 |
| 2000 | 35 | 15 | 16 | 66 |
| 1996 | 19 | 12 | 12 | 43 |
| 1992 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 40 |
| 1988 | 14 | 19 | 20 | 53 |
| 1984 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 58 |
| 1980 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 34 |
| 1976 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 22 |
| 1972 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| 1968 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 19 |
| 1964 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 1960 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
Athletics Australia
athletics.com.au
Athletics ACT
athleticsact.org.au
Athletics NSW
nswathletics.org.au
Athletics NT
ntathletics.org.au
QLD Athletics
qldathletics.org.au
Athletics SA
athleticssa.com.au
Athletics TAS
tasathletics.org.au
Athletics VIC
athsvic.org.au
Athletics WA
waathletics.org.au
