Competitors 60 in six events Location Fort Copacabana | Dates 10 Sep 2016 – 11 Sep 2016 Venue Fort Copacabana | |
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The paratriathlon competitions at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro took place from 10–12 September 2016 at Fort Copacabana. Sixty athletes competed across two genders, and six events. This was the first Paralympic Games to feature paratriathlon, one of two new sports (along with paracanoe) added to the schedule for 2016.
Contents
Format
The Paralympic triathlon contains three components; a 750 m (820 yd) swim, 20 km (12 mi) cycle, and a 5 km (3.1 mi) run. The competitions take the form of a single event between all competitors with no heats. Competition takes place across four of the five recognised paratriathlon classifications; both genders will compete in the PT2 and PT4 classifications, the PT1 category for men only, where wheelchair athletes use handcycles on the cycling leg, and racing wheelchairs on the run leg, and the PT5 category for women only, where women with visual impairments will be 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 will not count as a quota athlete but will be awarded a medal as appropriate.
No competition was held in the PT3 classification in 2016.
Qualification
In 2016, the field will largely be selected on the basis of rankings, although spaces will be 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 are quaified using the ITU Rankings criteria, the host nation places will be reduced, and awarded instead by the Bipartite Commission.
An National Paralympic Committee (NPC) may be allocated a maximum of two qualification slots per medal event for a maximum total of twelve qualification slots in 2016. Exceptions may be made via the Bipartite Commission Invitation Allocation method.
To be eligible for selection by an NPC, athletes must:
Ten places, not including guides in the PT5 classification, are available for each of the six events, awarded as follows: