Classification

Classification is really important to ensure fair competition.

All sports that are on the Paralympic programme, and even many that are not, have a classification system and trained classifiers who assess each athlete’s abilities individually in a range of ways. This can be done once or multiple times over an athlete’s career, depending on their impairment. A panel of two-three classifiers will assess each athlete.

Classifiers will also gather medical evidence before they do their assessments, to ensure they have a full
picture of an athlete’s condition or conditions.

Wheelchair fencing

Athletes will have an impairment that belongs to one of following eligibility groups laid out by the International Paralympic Committee:

• Impaired muscle power
• Athetosis
• Impaired passive range of movement
• Hypertonia
• Limb deficiency
• Ataxia
• Leg length difference

There are three divisions of competition – A, B and C. Only categories A and B feature at the Paralympic Games, but in World Para Fencing competitions for wheelchair fencing those athletes in category C can also compete. This is part of the sport’s development as these athletes have the most severe impairments but are currently least represented in the sport.

Fencers in category A have good trunk control, whereas category B athletes have an impairment that impacts their trunk or their fencing arm.