Athletics has been contested at every Summer Paralympics since the first games in 1960. Men and women from all disability groups compete in the sport.
Some athletes use wheelchairs or prosthetic limbs and compete in their respective sport independently and under their own power.
Visually impaired athletes participate in running events with the help of a sighted guide, to whom they may be attached by a tether. Sound-emitting devices or a sighted "caller" are used to indicate target areas for throwing events, take-off points for jumping events, and other important locations for visually impaired competitors.IPC Athletics – About the sport
There are several different classifications and groups in which athletes compete that are based on their disability. Each disability has a different classification which determines the class the athletes will compete in. Nearly every opportunity that is available to non-disabled athletes is available in the Paralympics.
In the first edition of the Summer Paralympic Games in 1960, Italy finished the sport in the first place of the medal table, between 1964 and 1996 there was a clear dominance of the United States, being broken in 2000, when Australia dominated the sport at home and since 2004, China has dominated the sport.
Summary GamesYear EventsBest Nation1 1960 25 2 1964 42 3 1968 70 4 1972 73 5 1976 208 6 1980 274 7 1984 443 8 1988 333 9 1992 240 10 1996 211 11 2000 234 12 2004 194 13 2008 160 14 2012 170 15 2016 177 16 2020 168 17 2024 164
Classification Athletes compete in various classes which group them according to their impairments and abilities.
Class CriteriaT/F11 From no light perception at all in either eye, up to and including the ability to perceive light; inability to recognize objects or contours in any direction and at any distance.T/F12 Ability to recognise objects up to a distance of 2 metres i.e. below 2/60 and/or visual field of less than five (5) degreesT/F13 Can recognise contours between 2 and 6 metres away i.e. 2/60 O 6/60 and visual field of more than five (5) degrees and less than twenty (20) degrees.T/F20 Athletes who have a recognised intellectual impairment according to international standards as recognised by the World Health Organisation i.e. IQ testing of 75 and below.T/F33 Moderate quadriplegia. Fair functional strength and moderate problems in upper extremities and torso. Wheelchair for daily activities but may be ambulant with assistive devices.T/F34 Moderate to severe problems in lower limbs, good functional strength and minimal control problems in upper limbs and torso. Wheelchair for daily activities but may be ambulant with assistive devicesT/F35 Good functional strength and minimal control problems in upper limbs. No wheelchair. May or may not use assistive devices.T/F36 Greater upper limb involvement, less coordination / balance problems when running or throwing. Ambulates without walking devices. T/F37 Moderate to minimal hemiplegia (i.e. one half of the body affected – arm and leg on same side). Good functional ability in non affected side. Walks / runs without assistive devices, but with a limp.T/F38 Minimal hemiplegia. May have minimal coordination problems, good balance. Runs and jumps freelyT40 Les Autres- French for "The Others"- disabilities that do not fall into any specific categories, for example Dwarfism. Height limit, Males 145 cm, Females 140 cm.T42 Single leg, above or through knee amputation. Combined lower plus upper limb amputations. Minimal disability.T43 Double leg, below knee amputation. Combined lower plus upper limb amputations. Normal function in throwing arm.T44 Single leg below knee amputation. Combined lower plus upper limb amputations. Ambulant with moderately reduced function in one or both lower limbsT45 Double arm amputation.T46 Single arm amputation. Normal function in both lower limbs. Other impairments in trunk. Upper limb function in throwing.T52 Damage to spinal cord in the higher parts of the back. Substantially impaired or no trunk function; no leg function. Pushing power comes from elbow extensions. T53 Impaired trunk movements, some with no spinal control. Some interference in their ability to perform long and forceful strokes and the ability to rapidly grasp and release the pushing rim of the wheel. T54 Have normal or nearly normal upper limb function. May have no upper trunk movements and when pushing, the trunk is usually lying on the legs. Those with almost normal trunk function are able to perform long and forceful strokes. Double above the knee amputations. F52 Limited arm function. Difficulty gripping with non-throwing arm. Shot – Unable to form a fist and therefore do not usually have finger contact with the shot at the release point. Discus – Have difficulty placing fingers over the edge of the discus. Javelin – Usually grip the Javelin between the index and middle fingers, or between the middle and ring fingers. F53 Have nearly normal grip with non-throwing arm. Shot – Usually a good fist can be made. Can spread fingers apart and can 'grasp' the shot put when throwing. Discus – Have good finger function to hold the discus and may be able to impart spin on the discus. Are able to spread and close the fingers, but not with normal power. Javelin – Usually grip javelin between the thumb and the index finger. Have ability to hold javelin.F54 Normal arm function; no trunk or leg function. Shot, Discus and Javelin – Have no sitting balance and usually hold on to part of chair whilst throwingF55 Some trunk function; no leg function. Fair to good sitting balance.F56 Trunk function with some upper leg function. Good balance and movements backwards and forwards.F57 Usually one 'good' leg and one 'bad' leg. Good movements backwards and forwards, usually to one side. Can raise from a sitting to a standing position with assistance during the throw. F58 Seated. Better function than F57 athletes, but not enough to stand to throw. Usually similar impairment in both legs.
Medal summary
Medal table The following medal table is the winnings of the 2020 Paralympic Games. Countries in italics are former countries who participated in the Paralympic Games. The United States has more than doubled the winnings of any other country, Great Britain and Canada being their closest competitor.
Multi-medallists Athletes who achieved more than three medals in the Paralympic Games. Updated to 2016 Summer Paralympics.
T/F11 – 13 No. Athlete Country Class Years Athletic event Gender GoldSilverBronzeTotal1Omara DurandT12/T132012–2020100m 200m 400mF1000102Assia El HannouniT12/T132004–2012100m 200m 400m 800m 1500mF820103Maher BouallegueT132000–2004800m 1500m 5000m10000mM61074Jason SmythT132008–2020100m 200mM60065José SayovoT112004–2012100m 200m400mM43296Li DuanF112000–2012Long jump Triple jumpM42287Liu CuiqingT112016–2020100m 200m 400m 4x100mF42178Adria SantosT11/T121996–2008100m 200m 400m 4x100mF34189Adekundo AdesojiT122004100m 200m400mM3003Royal MitchellT132000–2008100m 200m 400m relayM300311Ilse HayesT13/F132004–2016100m 400m Long JumpF241712Li YansongT122008–2012100m 200m 400m relayM232713Nathan MeyerT132000–2004100m 200mM210314Ildar PomykalovT121996–20085000m MarathonM202415Oksana BoturchukT122008–2024100m 200m 400mF1921216Carlos Amaral FerreiraT111996–200410000m MarathonM131517André AndradeT132000–2008100m 200mM130418Diosmani GonzalezT121996–20045000m 10000mM120319Ananias ShikongoT112000–2012100m 200m 400mM112420Mohamed AmguounT13 2012–2020400mM111321José AlvesT132000–2004100m 200m 400m relay relayM103422Lex GilletteF112004–2020Long jumpM050523Odair SantosT112004–2016800m 1500m 5000m 10000mM044824Luis BullidoT112000–2004100m 200m 400m relayM041525Jason DunkerleyT112000–2012800m 1500m 5000mM032526Ricardo SantanaT122000–2008100m 200m relayM023527Johannes NambalaT132016–2020100m 400m 5000mM021328Gautier MakundaT112004–2012100m relayM014529Kestutis BartkenasT11/131996–20045000m 10000mM0134Oleksandr IvaniukhinT11/F11/P112000–2008100m 200m 400m Long jump Triple jump PentathlonM013431Stuart McGregorT131996–2004800m 1500mM0123
T/F32 – 38 No. Athlete Country Class Years Athletic event(s) Gender GoldSilverBronzeTotal1Hannah CockroftT342012–2024100m200m400m 800mF80082So Wa WaiT361996–2012100m200m400m relayM633123Alex HermansC6/F361980–2000Discus throwLong jumpShot putM61184Darren ThruppF/T371992–2008100m200m relayLong jumpM60395Zhou XiaT352016–2024100m200mF60066Lisa McIntoshT37/T382000–2008100m200m400mF51177David LarsonC3-4/T331988–2000100m200m400m800mM50388Mohamed AllekT36-371996–2008100m200m400mM50169Benny GovaertsC7/T371988–2004800m1500m5000mM412710Kim Du-chunC6/T351988–2000100m200m400mM411611Wang FangT36/T382004–2008100m200m400mM410512Shi YitingT362016–2024100m200mF400413Peter HaberC7/T36/F361992–2000100m200m400mLong jumpM350814Willem NoorduinC5/F351988–2008Discus throwShot putM342915Malcolm PringleT37/381996–2004400m800m1500mM331716Stephen PaytonT37/381996–2008100m200m400m relayM324917Freeman RegisterC5-6/T351992–2000100m200m relayM312618Andrzej WrobelC7-8/T371992–2000800m1500mM311519James ShawF34/371996–2004Discus throwJavelin throwShot putM3014Elena SviridovaT362012–2020100m200m4x100m relayF301421Ross DavisC3-4/T341992–2000100m200m400m800mM243922Ahmed Hassan MahmoudC7/T36-371992–2000100m200m400mM114623Shing Chung ChanC7-8/T381988–2000100m relayM113524Isabelle FoerderT371996–2004100m200mF041525Fernando GomezT351996100m200m400m relayM030326Lamouri RahmouniT361992–2000400m relayM0213
T/F42 – 46
T/F52 – 58
Events Note that not all events at a particular games are competed across all classifications
Men's events Event 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 00 04 08 12 16 20 24 Current program 100 metres ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 200 metres ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 400 metres ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 800 metres ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 1500 metres ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 5000 metres ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Marathon ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 4×100metres relay ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● High jump ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Long jump ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Shot put ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Discus throw ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Javelin throw ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Club throw ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Past events20 metres ● 60 metres ● ● ● ● ● ● 80 metres ● 10,000 meters ● ● ● ● ● ● 1500 metres race walk ● ● 5000 metres walk ● ● 4 x 40 metres relay ● ● 4 x 60 metres relay ● ● ● 4 x 80 metres relay ● 4 x 200 metres relay ● ● 4×400 metres relay ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Triple jump ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Precision javelin ● ● ● ● ● ● Football accuracy ● Football distance ● Slalom ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Pentathlon ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Women's events Event 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 00 04 08 12 16 20 24 Current program 100 metres ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 200 metres ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 400 metres ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 800 metres ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 1500 metres ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 5000 metres ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Marathon ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 4×100metres relay ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Long jump ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Shot put ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Discus throw ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Javelin throw ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Club throw ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Past events 20 metres ● 4 x 40 metre relay ● ● ● 4 x 60 metre relay ● 4 x 200 metre relay ● ● 60 metres ● ● ● ● 1000 metres cross country ● 3000 metres ● ● ● ● ● 10,000 metres ● ● ● High jump ● ● ● ● Precision club throw ● ● Precision javelin ● ● ● ● Slalom ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Pentathlon ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Nations Nations 10 16 26 39 39 40 51 57 74 84 104 116 111 141 146 Competitors 31 82 423 549 774 936 1198 1141 928 908 1044 1064 1028 1133 1140
See also
Athletics at the Summer Olympics Marathon at the Paralympics World Para Athletics Championships
References