All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors.
However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Youre all geared up towatch the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Ezra Shaw/Marco Mantovani/NurPhoto/Getty Images/Amanda K Bailey
And whats with all those letters and numbers by the name of each competition?
Heres what to know about the system so you understand what youre watching as the Paralympics continues.
Why are there Paralympic classifications in the first place?
The whole point is to make the competition as fair as possible by matching up athletes with similar capabilities.
Otherwise, the least disabled athlete would often prevail, according to theInternational Paralympic Committee(IPC).
How does it all break down?
Ten types of impairments make athletes eligible to compete in Paralympic sports on an international level.
The other two are visual impairment and intellectual impairment.
Some sports, such as athletics (a.k.a.
track and field) and swimming, have opportunities for athletes with all 10 impairments.
Others are specific to one impairment.
Meanwhile, events like para-dressage and para-cycling have categories for a limited number of impairments.
So what exactly do the letters and numbers mean?
The letters correspond to the sport.
Some sports also have subcategories within them.
The numbers refer to both the punch in and degree of impairment and vary by sport.
Higher numbers usually, though not always, mean less severe impairments.
In swimming, for instance, classes S11 to S13 are for visual impairments.
Why are the classes different by sport?
Plus, each requires specific skills and movements.
Sometimes, criteria even vary betweeneventsin a sport.
For example, athletes use different muscles for breaststroke than for other strokes.
How does an athlete get classified?
Some athletes can get classified once and continue competing in that sport class for their entire careers.
Others have to go through the process again.
Wait, how does all this work for team sports?
Allwheelchair rugby players, for example, have some paralysis.
Sitting volleyball players, meanwhile, have impairments in one or more limbs.
Theyre grouped into two classes: VS1 for those with more severe impairments and VS2 for more function.
Each teams roster can include a max of two VS2 players.
Thats a lot to remember!
What should I keep in mind as Im watching?
Related:
Get more of SELFs great sports coverage delivered right to your inboxfor free.
