The sport is governed by World Triathlon (TRI; formerly known as the International Triathlon Union or ITU), and was first held as a Paralympic event at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
[1][2] At events sanctioned by World Triathlon, athletes compete over a para triathlon sprint distance event with a 750 m swim, 20 km cycle using handcycles, bicycles or tandem bicycles with a guide and a 5 km wheelchair or running race.
[3] Athletes compete in nine sport classes according to the nature of their physical impairments, with variations made to the traditional event structure commensurate with their disability.
Until the 2014 season, there were seven categories:[5] The ITU revised the para triathlon classification system in preparation for the sport's debut at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
[8] The ITU revised the para triathlon classification system post-2016 Summer Paralympics.