The triathlon competitions at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro took place from 10 to 12 September 2016 at Fort Copacabana. Sixty athletes competed across two genders, and six events. This was the first Paralympic Games to feature para triathlon, one of two new sports (along with para canoe) added to the schedule for 2016.
Format The Paralympic triathlon contained three components; a swim, cycle, and a run. The competition took the form of a single event between all competitors with no heats. The competition took place across four of the five recognised para triathlon classifications; both genders competed in the PT2 and PT4 classifications, the PT1 category for men only, where wheelchair athletes used handcycles on the cycling leg, and racing wheelchairs on the run leg, and the PT5 category for women only, where women with visual impairments were assisted by a sighted guide, using a tandem bicycle on the cycling leg; as with other events for blind and visually impaired athletes, any guide did not count as a quota athlete but was awarded a medal as appropriate.
No competition was held in the PT3 classification in 2016.
+ Triathlon at the 2016 Summer Paralympics - Classification and events Classification Description Men's Event Women's EventPT1 Athletes with mobility impairments that render them incapable of safely running or pedalling a bicycle. They must have a classification assessment score of up to 640,0 points.
Athletes must use a recumbent handcycle during the cycling stage and a racing wheelchair for the running phase of the race.●no women's event was held in this classificationPT2Athletes with mobility impairments that have a classification assessment score of up to 454,9 points.
Amputees may use approved prostheses or supportive devices during the running and cycling stages.●●PT3 Athletes with mobility impairments such as muscle power, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia or athetosis that have a classification assessment score from 455,0 to 494,9 points.
Athletes may use approved prostheses or supportive devices during the running and cycling stages. no event was held in this classificationPT4 Athletes with mobility impairments such as muscle power, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia or athetosis that have a classification assessment score from 495,0 to 557,0 points.
Athletes may use approved prostheses or supportive devices during the running and cycling stages.●●PT5Athletes with a visual impairment. All qualifying levels of visual impairment, IBSA/IPC defined sub-classes B1, B2, and B3, are grouped together in this classification.
Athletes must have a sighted guide of the same gender and nationality during the entire race and use a tandem bicycle during the cycling stage. The guide will not be counted towards a quota, but will be eligible to receive a medal.no men's event was held in this classification●
Qualification In 2016, the field was largely selected on the basis of rankings, although spaces were reserved for the nation represented by the 2015 World Champion in each classification, two host nation athletes, and eight selections from the Bipartite Commission. If host nation athletes qualified using the ITU Rankings criteria, the host nation places were reduced, and awarded instead by the Bipartite Commission.
A National Paralympic Committee (NPC) was allowed to allocated a maximum of two qualification slots per medal event for a maximum total of twelve qualification slots in 2016. Exceptions were made via the Bipartite Commission Invitation Allocation method.
To be eligible for selection by an NPC, athletes had to: be ranked on the ITU Paralympic Qualification List closing 30 June 2016; be internationally classified with either of the following - 'Confirmed' sport class status 'Review' sport class status with a review date after 31 December 2016.
Ten places, not including guides in the PT5 classification, were available for each of the six events, awarded as follows:
Triathlon at the 2016 Summer Paralympics - QualificationQualification eventNumberPT1PT2PT4Men2015 ITU World Championships19 September 2015 Chicago 1 per event 2016 ITU Paralympic Qualification List 6 per event Host Quotaacross all 6 events0* colspan="3" Bipartite Committee PlacesBipartite Commission Paratriathlon Selections.across all 6 events10 colspan="2" rowspan="2" WomenPT2PT4PT52015 ITU World Championships19 September 2015 Chicago 1 per event 2016 ITU Paralympic Qualification List 6 per event Host Quotaacross all 6 events1 Bipartite Committee Placesacross all 6 events7
Medal summary Medal table
Events Men's individual PT1 PT2 PT4 Women's individual PT2 PT4 PT5
References