T20 (classification)

T20 is a disability sport classification for disability athletics in track and jump events. It broadly covers athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Arleta Meloch, T20 world record holding athlete at three distances

Sport

This classification is for disability athletics.[1] This classification broadly covers athletes with intellectual disabilities.[2] The classification by Buckley goes on to say "To become eligible to compete in the Paralympic Games, all athletes with an Intellectual Disability have to reach the primary eligibility criteria, which is determined by:

  • An IQ score at or below 75 (A person with an IQ of 100 is considered average)
  • Significant limitations in adaptive behaviour (conceptual, social or practical adaptive skills such as communication, self care, social skills, home living, health and safety difficulties)
  • Onset acquired before the age of 18[1]

The International Paralympic Committee defined this classification on their website in July 2016 as, "(Intellectual impairment)".[3]

Performance and rules

People in this class are required to use blocks for races 400 meters or less. They can be provided assistance in setting up their blocks if they make a request in advance.[4]

Events

Internationally, events open to this class include the long jump, shot put, 400 meters, 800 meters, 1,500 meters, and 5,000 meters.[5][6] There may be more events on the national level at the discretion of the national track federation.[4]

Gender Event Class AQS/MQS BQS Event
Men's 400 m T20 49.2 50.46 2016 Summer Paralympics
Women's 400 m T20 60.27 61.59 2016 Summer Paralympics
Men's 1500 m T20 03:58.2 04:00.9 2016 Summer Paralympics
Women's 1500 m T20 04:40.0 04:50.0 2016 Summer Paralympics
Men's Long jump T20 7.11 6.74 2016 Summer Paralympics
Women's Long jump T20 5.19 5.03 2016 Summer Paralympics

History

The classification was created by the International Paralympic Committee and has roots in a 2003 attempt to address "the overall objective to support and co-ordinate the ongoing development of accurate, reliable, consistent and credible sport focused classification systems and their implementation."[7]

Competitors

Competitors in this class include Hannah Taunton (UK), José Antonio Expósito and José Martínez Morote from Spain, Peyman Nasiri Bazanjani from Iran, and Daniel Pek, Barbara Niewiedzial, Karolina Kucharczyk, and Arleta Meloch from Poland.

See also

References
  1. Buckley, Jane (2011). "Understanding Classification: A Guide to the Classification Systems used in Paralympic Sports". Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  2. "Summer Sports » Athletics". Australia: Australian Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  3. "IPC Athletics Classification & Categories". www.paralympic.org. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  4. "PARALYMPIC TRACK & FIELD: Officials Training" (PDF). USOC. United States Olympic Committee. December 11, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  5. "(Athletics) Results Men's 5000m T20 Final - Doha 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships".
  6. "(Athletics) Results Men's 800m T20 Final - Doha 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships".
  7. "Paralympic Classification Today". International Paralympic Committee. 22 April 2010. p. 3. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.