T43 (classification)

This includes athletes with loss of muscle power in the lower limbs consistent with Class F57 or F58.

"[3] The International Paralympic Committee defined this classification on their website in July 2016 as, "Lower limb affected by limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired range of movement".

[9] Inside the class, shank length does not impact the distance that male long jumpers can jump.

[6][13][14] People in this class use around 7% more oxygen to walk or run the same distance as someone without a lower limb amputation.

[6][14] Common problems with intact upper limbs for people in this class include rotator cuffs tearing, shoulder impingement, epicondylitis and peripheral nerve entrapment.

[16] People in this class who are lower limb amputees are required to wear their leg prosthesis when they are on the track, and they must run.

[16] People with arm amputations in this class can have elevated padded blocks to place their stumps on for the start of the race.

The classification was created by the International Paralympic Committee and has roots in a 2003 attempt to address "the overall objective to support and co-ordinate the ongoing development of accurate, reliable, consistent and credible sport focused classification systems and their implementation.

This policy was put into place in 2014, with the goal of avoiding last minute changes in classes that would negatively impact athlete training preparations.

All competitors needed to be internationally classified with their classification status confirmed prior to the Games, with exceptions to this policy being dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

[26] With a 400 metres time of 45.07 seconds recorded on 19 July 2011, he achieved the "A" qualifying requirement for the 2011 World Championships and the 2012 Summer Olympics.

[27] In the 2012 London Paralympics, Pistorius set a new world record in the first-round heats of the 200 metres T43/T44 event, finishing with a time of 21.30s.

[29] Alan Oliveira currently holds the 100m T44 world record after winning the Paralympic Anniversary Games in London with a time of 10.57.