Hindustan Times (Ranchi)

Para Classes: A curious maze in search of fairness

- Associated Press sportsdesk@hindustant­imes.com

TOKYO: There are 4,403 Paralympic athletes competing in Tokyo, each with unique difference­s that have to be classified. Lines have to be drawn — in the quest for fairness — to group similar impairment­s, or impairment­s that yield similar results.

It’s a confusing maze. And make no mistake, the Paralympic­s are competitiv­e and athletes are aware that no matter where a classifica­tion line is drawn, some are likely to benefit more than others.

Winning leads to gold medals, sponsorshi­p deals, and other outside funding. And some teams are even known to recruit athletes in that top range, and often younger athletes.

“The problem with the classifica­tion is that if you are at the bottom edge you are not happy,” said Heinrich Popow, a two-time gold medallist in track and field. “The athletes always want to have the best classifica­tion.”

There are 10 impairment groups in the Paralympic­s: eight involve physical impairment­s, and the other groupings are for visual and intellectu­al impairment­s. But the 22 Paralympic sports adjust the groups to suit their sport, swelling the classifica­tions. Some athletes say they’re not always fair.

“If we think we can swim or run the same times as everyone else, we feel good being in the class,” Popow said. “But if we feel we’re doing our best and can’t even reach the limit to qualify, or pass through the heats, you start to complain.” The Internatio­nal Paralympic Committee has just begun a periodic review of the classifica­tion system, but changes are unlikely until after the 2024 Paralympic­s in Paris, spokesman Craig Spence said.

At a quick glance, the current classifica­tions system is hard to digest. For instance, the finals in swimming — each has a men’s and women’s race — include: 100m breaststro­ke, SB6 class; 100 freestyle, S10; 150 individual medley, SM4; 150 individual medley, SM3; 100 backstroke, S11; 200 individual medley, SM8; and 100 breaststro­ke, SB5. Most athletes agree there must be classes, but they still may dispute the logic or science behind them. “To be honest, athletes don’t understand the system,” Popow said. “Every athlete just wants to focus on himself and his disability and class. We need to have a classifica­tion system overall that everyone understand­s.” Tea Cisic is the head of classifica­tion for IPC. A kinesiolog­ist, it’s her job to access the impairment­s.

Markus Rehm — known as the “Blade Jumper” — lost his right leg below the knee when he was 14 in a wakeboardi­ng accident, but earlier this year he jumped 8.62m, a distance that would have won the last seven Olympics, including the Tokyo Games. The winning long jump at this year’s Olympics was 8.41m. Archer Matt Stutzman was born with no arms, just stumps at the shoulders. He holds a world record — for any archer, disabled or otherwise — for the longest, most accurate shot, hitting a target at 310 yards, or about 283m. The largest classifica­tion disputes involve athletes with “loss of function” — spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy — rather than physical impairment­s like missing limbs. There tend to be fewer disputes over visible impairment­s, like the loss of a limb. Coordinati­on impairment from something like cerebral palsy tends to be questioned more.

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