Triathlon qualification criteria for Paralympics announced

The ITU's executive board has approved that para-triathletes from a class that doesn’t feature in the Paralympics may qualify by competing in a higher category.

This is typically known as 'classing up' within the sport.

ITU president and IOC committee member Marisol Casado commented: "This announcement is very important for our sport and all our para-triathletes, as we are giving all of them the chance to vie for Paralympic glory.

"Having eight medal events at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics meant that not all classes were catered for at the Games.

"By allowing classing-up, athletes without their event in the programme now have the opportunity to go the extra mile and try to be there, even if competing against athletes with different impairments."

The qualification period will last for a year from June 29, 2019, and will include the 2019 ITU Paratriathlon World Championships in Lausanne, the ITU World Paratriathlon Series events within that period, one ITU Paratriathlon Continental Championships per region, and the ITU Paratriathlon World Cups.

Sportsbeat 2018