Paratriathlon

Welcome to the sport of Paratriathlon!  We hope you find the information in this area useful. 

If you require further information, please send an email to administrator@triathlonireland.com with your query.

Paratriathlon is unique in that it fully integrates athletes with physical and visual impairments alongside their able bodied counterparts at the same event.

Paratriathlon events are for athletes with physical and visual impairments. See the ITU categories section below.

ITU Categories

There are currently six categories for physically challenged athletes to compete in:

TRI 1 - Wheelchair user: Includes Paraplegic, Quadriplegic, Polio, Double Leg Amputee. Athletes must use a recumbent hand cycle on bike course and racing wheel chair on run.

TRI 2 - Severe leg impairment including above knee amputees. Athletes must ride bicycles and run with above knee prosthesis (or similar prosthesis) or run using crutches.

TRI 3 - Les Autres: This category includes athletes with Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, double leg amputee runners or paralysis in multiple limbs. These athletes will ride a bicycle and run. They may use braces or prosthesis if required.

TRI 4 - Arm impairment including paralysis, above elbow amputees and below elbow amputees, or impairment in both upper limbs. Athletes may use prosthesis, brace or sling on the bike and/or run.

TRI 5 - Moderate leg impairment including below knee amputees. Athletes ride bicycles and run with prosthesis.

TRI 6 - Visual Impairment, legally Blind (20/200 vision with best corrective vision). A handler of the same sex is mandatory throughout the race. Athletes are tethered during the swim. Athletes use a tandem bicycle and must be tethered during the run. Athletes shall use approved “black out glasses” during the entire run portion.

Distances

 Domestic races are held over the Tri-a-Tri (250m swim, 6km cycle, 3km run) or Sprint Distance (750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run) while International races are held over the Sprint Distance.

Races within Ireland

We welcome any paratriathlete to take part in any of our sanctioned races.  You will find all our sanctioned races on our Race Calendar. 

Want to Represent Ireland?

Do you want to represent Ireland at international level?  If so, go to the 'Race for Ireland' area for further information.

Rules

Click here to view the ITU Competition Rules.  Within this document, you will find a section on the ITU Paratriathlon Rules.