Adaptive Divisions
Everybody Can Race #
Regardless of abilities or classifications, every adaptive athlete can race in a USA Triathlon sanctioned event. Completing the World Triathlon Classification process is not neccessary. Domestic USA Triathlon events utilize the below structure for adaptive athletes.
Note: this structure is dictated by USA Triathlon's competitive rules. Athletes that require accomodations not listed in the competitive rules or adaptive divisions should contact rulesandofficials@usatriathlon.org and formally request those additional accomodations.
Adaptive Divisions#
This division is open to athletes with physical and visual impairments that are not able to be classified into Championship Paratriathlon competition categories or choose not to do so. It is also open to athletes who choose not to race according to USA Triathlon or World Triathlon Paratriathlon rules, for example by choosing different equipment or racing with a guide of a different gender.
Adaptive Triathlon Division 1 consists of three main sub-divisions:
- ADT1 Ambulatory – This sub-division is for ambulatory athletes competing with limb deficiencies, with or without prostheses, but without the use of a wheelchair. This includes athletes with amputations of one or more limb or limited mobility of one or more limb.
- ATD1 Wheelchair – The ATD1 Wheelchair sub-division is for athletes with physical impairments that require the use of a handcycle on the bike course and a racing wheelchair on the run course.
- ADT1 Visually Impaired – This sub-division ADT1 is for athletes with visual Impairments. Athletes in this sub-division have low to no vision and will race with co-athletes.
Remember, athletes racing in ADT1 are not required to have formal para classification. Athletes with formal para classification, however, are allowed to participate in ADT1.
Adaptive Triathlon Division 1 may be offered in agreement with race management at any accessible USAT sanctioned race, including being offered alongside Paratriathlon at USAT Paratriathlon Championships, USAT Paratriathlon Development Series and USAT Paratriathlon Championship events.
This division is open to athletes who require adaptations and/or accommodations to be able to race multisport events but can do so with limited assistance or equipment adaptations. Those eligible to race in ATD2 are athletes with intellectual impairments. This may include but is not limited to: Down Syndrome, Autism, Fragile X Syndrome, and other intellectual impairments that impact cognitive abilities. There are many other types of intellectual impairments — some have known causes while others remain unknown.
ATD2 athletes may race with a co-athlete for all or just portions of a race.
This division may be offered in agreement with Race Management at any accessible USA Triathlon sanctioned race including USA Triathlon Youth and Junior Nationals and any other designated USA Triathlon National Championship.
This division is open to athletes who require adaptations to be able to race multisport events but can do so with limited assistance or equipment adaptations. Those eligible for ATD3 include, but are not limited to, athletes with medically verified conditions such as Traumatic Brain Injury, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, chronic diseases, congenital conditions, or neurological conditions.
In this division, athletes can receive accommodations that facilitate their ability to participate in multisport. This came be through racing with a co-athlete on portions of the course to allowing an athlete bike modification to prevent falls.
This division may be offered in agreement with Race Management at any accessible USAT sanctioned race including USAT Youth and Junior Nationals and any other designated USAT National Championship.
This division is open for athletes who race with a co-athlete who pulls, pushes or propels the athlete through the racecourse.
For example, in the swim, a co-athlete may pull the athlete in an inflatable raft; on the bike course, the athlete may ride in cart pulled behind the co-athlete’s bike; and for the run course, the co-athlete pushes the athlete in a wheelchair.
For reasons of athlete safety, these are teams that must start in their own wave and behind all other athlete waves.
Adaptive Triathlon Division 4 may be offered in agreement with race management at any accessible USA Triathlon sanctioned race including any designated USAT National Championship.
This division is a participatory category that allows athletes with some form of medically verified, significant and temporary injury that would require accommodations for participation in multisport events. Athletes wishing to participate in this category may request suitable accommodations from race management and they may be provided without prior approval of USA Triathlon. However, the athlete’s results are not eligible for rankings or awards that may be available to the participants in the other divisions referenced in this course.
The Adaptive Triathlon Temporary Mobility Impairment division may be offered in agreement with race management at any accessible USA Triathlon sanctioned race excluding USAT National Championship Events.
Athletes participating in an Adaptive Triathlon Division will often require unique equipment adaptations and accommodation needs for accessibility. As a result, rules and accommodations for these athletes are flexible in most areas.
In most cases, equipment used in the Adaptive Triathlon Division should conform to the equipment standards referenced in the USA Triathlon and/or World Triathlon Competition Rules. However, Exceptions for equipment use accommodations and accessibility can be made.
Examples of Equipment Accomodations#
The below are examples, not a complete list of equipment accommodations. Please note that recumbent bicycles are not allowed for any participant.
Athletes with any impairment that may affect balance may choose to use stabilizer wheels on the bicycle.
Recumbent style tricycles are allowed for use by ATD1 Ambulatory, ATD1 Wheelchair, ATD2, ATD3, and ATTMI categories.
Hand-cycles that do not meet the Paratriathlon measurement restrictions for length, wheel size, seat angle, or have no safety bars, are allowed.
Adaptive Triathlon athletes may use any of the allowed adaptive equipment in combinations that are not permitted in Paratriathlon.
Requests to use any equipment that allows for participation within the Adaptive Triathlon Divisions should be made to USA Triathlon at rulesandofficials@usatriathlon.org at least 14 days prior to the event.
Allowable Assistance#
Under USA Triathlon’s Adaptive Rules, accessibility divisions and recommendations, there are four categories of allowable assistance.
A handler is person who provides assistance to an adaptive athlete who requires physical assistance in transition or at the water.
The term guide is strictly used for those guiding a visually impaired athlete. The guide and athlete will be tethered together and will use a tandem bicycle to complete the event.
A race partner is someone who provides more limited assistance in the form of guidance and support for intellectually impaired athletes who with such assistance can complete the portions of a multisport event without the accompaniment of a co-athlete.
A co-athlete is someone who races alongside intellectually impaired athlete to ensure a safe event for the athlete and fellow competitors.
Overview of Adaptive Rules, Divisions and Recommendations
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Overview of Adaptive Rules, Divisions and Recommendations
USA Triathlon has developed a free course available to all members that will introduce and discuss each adaptive division, equipment, accessibility to races and general recommendations.
Take the Course, opens in a new tab
Hosting Adaptive-Friendly Events #
Race directors, want to include adaptive waves in your events? USA Triathlon's Race Director Resources include information on creating adaptive-friendly events. Categories and classifications, race operations, scalability and management, and marketing are all discussed.