PARALYMPIC PATHWAY FAQs

THE PARALYMPIC PATHWAY

DEFINITION

TEAMS 

What is the Athletics Australia Paralympic Program?

The purpose of the Athletics Australia Paralympic Program is to drive a sustainable and engaged HP system committed to BME Gold medals, inspiring a nation through our success and behaviour.

The purpose of the Athletics Australia Paralympic Pathway is to facilitate a national partnership network to identify and progress BME medal potential athletes and engage coaches to coach para-athletes. We do this via activities, programs and teams.

The para-athletics Benchmark Events (BME’s) are Paralympic Games, and World Para Athletics Championships.

The International Governing body for para-athletics is World Para Athletics (WPA), which is a member of the International Paralympic Committee.

“Para” means alongside. This is the broad term used to identify people with a disability or an impairment within sport.

What are the Teams available to Paralympic Pathway Athletes?

1. All Schools Championships
2. National Championships
3. Area Championships (Oceania & Melanesian Championships)
4. Commonwealth Games
5. Benchmark Events (BME’s) - World Para Athletics Championships & Paralympic Games

What are the Para Athletics pathways, which one am I on, and how do they differ?

• Paralympic Pathway - Athletes who demonstrate potential to medal in events offered at Benchmark Events (BME’s); Paralympic Games and WPA Championships.
• Non-Paralympic International Pathway – Includes athletes who compete in events offered at international competitions that are not Paralympic Games/WPA Championships e.g. Dwarf Games, CPISRA Games, INAS Global Games, Special Olympics, Deaf Olympics, Transplant Games etc.
• Participation Pathway - Athletes who do not want to or have not yet shown potential to compete at Paralympic Pathway BME’s or Non-Paralympic International Pathway events.

Every para-athlete is different. Athletes can transition through each of these three pathways as they develop, change events and in some cases change class. The Paralympic Pathway is not linear, each athlete will develop and progress at different rates. The Paralympic Pathway is not age related, it is relative to an individual’s ability to progress and medal at future BME’s.

How do I qualify for the Teams available to Paralympic Pathway Athletes?

All Schools/National Championships – Each state has different criteria for their All Schools and National Championship teams. For further information please contact your Member Association.

Area Championships – Please see National Teams for specific Area Championships (Oceania/Melanesian Games) selection criteria. These criteria change for each Area Championships. Please review the selection policy and refer any questions to the High-Performance department at Athletics Australia.

Commonwealth Games – Please see National Teams for the Commonwealth Games selection criteria. These criteria change for each Commonwealth Games and are subject to ICGA requirements. Please review the selection policy and refer any questions to the High-Performance department at Athletics Australia.

Paralympics/WPA Championships – Please see National Teams for the Paralympic Games/WPA Championships nomination/selection criteria. These criteria change for each Paralympic Games/WPA Championships and are subject to WPA or IPC requirements. Please review the selection policy and refer any questions to the High-Performance department at Athletics Australia.

The three key requirements an athlete must fulfil in relation to BME nomination/selection policies are:

1. Meet the athlete eligibility criteria of the nomination/selection policy.
2. Obtain an international classification with review date post that in which the BME takes place.
3. Obtain a minimum of 2 x ‘AA B’ standards as set out in the nomination/selection policy within the qualifying window.

Please visit the Paralympic Pathways Teams page for up to date information on current Teams.

Why does AA High Performance invest solely in the Paralympic Pathway?

Athletics Australia’s High-Performance department are funded by Sport Australia solely to achieve gold medal outcomes at BME’s.

Other organisations are tasked with developing and resourcing Non-Paralympic Pathways events.

Click here for information on the Non-Paralympic Pathway organisations. The Member Associations of Athletics Australia as well as the Participation department of Athletics Australia is tasked with supporting all athletes, Able or Para, to enjoy athletics whatever their age.

RECORDS & RESULTS

I am internationally classified and have a current IPC license but my seasons best performance is not recognised on the WPA Rankings List, why is that? Will it affect my chances of being selected for a BME team?

There are two reasons why this may have occurred;

1. The performance you are referring to was not an Athletics Australia WPA Sanctioned Meet. For a full list of those meets please go to the following link.

2. The performance you are referring to was not submitted by Athletics Australia. WPA Rankings are based on the submissions of each NSO when an athlete performs at a WPA Sanctioned Meet. Sometimes we miss events/results. If you feel you are missing a result please contact the Paralympic Pathways Lead.

No - this will not affect your chances of being selected for a BME Team, but we recommend that you inform the Paralympic Pathways Lead any time you achieve the AA nomination/selection policy standards.

I am internationally classified with a current IPC license and achieved a Regional/World Record that has not been recognised by WPA, why is that?

There are three reasons why this may have occurred:

1. The performance you are referring to was not an Athletics Australia WPA Sanctioned Meet. For a full list of those meets please go to the following link.
2. The performance you are referring to did not meet the anti-doping requirements necessary for a Regional/World record to be ratified.
3. The correct documentation required to ratify a Regional/World record was not provided to WPA within the required time frame.

For further information on Regional and World Record requirements and applications please see the WPA Rules and Regulations (pages 254 to 260).

I am nationally classified and achieved a National record that has not been recognised by AA, why is that?

There are three reasons why this may have occurred:

1. You achieved the record at an event that is not recognised for national records or with a classification status that is not eligible (i.e. review).
2. The Athletics Australia National Para Records are updated twice annually – your record may be awaiting release in the next update.
3. Your record application form was incomplete, incorrectly submitted and/or not received by Athletics Australia’s competitions department.

Athletics Australia are currently reviewing the capture and management of National Records. This review will encompass the eligibility of records, the record application process and the publication of records as they are achieved. Further information will be made available following the completion of this review.

It is important to me that if I achieve a national/regional/world record that it is recognised accordingly – how do I make sure that happens?

Records are a great way to celebrate our athletes’ performances. Whilst a record does not always corelate to the Paralympic Pathway we want to ensure that when a record is set, then it is recognised.

All records, whether national/regional/world must be submitted to the AA competitions department along with all the required documentation completed and signed off by the appropriate judges, referees and administrators.

For national record eligibility, forms and claim process here.

For regional/world record eligibility, forms and claim process please click here.

TALENT IDENTIFICATION

How is Athletics Australia identifying talent?

The talent identification process is multifaceted, and we will use the following methods:

1. 1. Performance data including times/distances/heights in training and the progression of these
   2. Results data including progression, and international performance comparison
   3. Event Group Coach recommendation based on detailed knowledge of classification profiles, international event progression and technical elements of the event.
   4. Understanding of athletes coaching set up, quality of daily training environment, and support network.

What can I do to be talent identified?

We encourage both athletes and coaches to communicate regularly with our Event Group Coaches. The more they know you, the more they can support you.

Event Group Coaches will want to know things such as: training and competition results and reflections; season plans and weekly training schedules; coaching and support network and technical models.

I cannot find a para-athletics coach in my area to coach me – how can I find one?

As part of our broader para athletics strategy we want more coaches coaching para athletes at the Pathway level. We encourage you to consider contacting coaches who coach the event group - not necessarily the classification.

To find out more about available coaches in your area we encourage you to link in with our Event Group Coaches, or head over to find a coach at Athletics Australia.

It is important you know about your impairment so you can help the coach adjust training and drills to suit you. The coach doesn’t need to be an expert in your impairment, they need to be an expert in the event group and in you.

I am a coach and have not coached Para athletes before / My coach is new to coaching para athletes.

As part of our broader para athletics strategy we want more coaches coaching para athletes at the Pathway level. We encourage all coaches to take on para-athletes. Coaching a Para athlete can challenge your creativity, and the adaptability coaches who coach para athletes learn has great implications across their squads

We strongly encourage you to connect with one of our Event Group Coaches and they can help you and may be able to provide mentoring opportunities for you.

COMPETITIONS

DOMESTIC

How does Multi Class Scoring work?

The process of multiclass scoring is iterative – an explanation of the current system can be found here. As our national championships offer event/class combinations that are not competed at the major benchmark events, we have limited data to create a scoring system that recognises all classes across an event equitably. In some situations, athletes on the participation pathway or non-Paralympic International pathway will take out the title of National Champion but that does not impact on a Paralympic pathway athletes’ selection onto BME teams.

Why do the AA High Performance Meets (formerly known as the Track Classics) have a limited program for para-athletes?

There are several differences in the World Athletics and World Para Athletics method of determining BME team eligibility.

The purpose of the AA High-Performance Meets is to provide able-bodied athletes with an opportunity for a high level of competition on Australian soil and the ability to achieve ranking points as required to obtain able-bodied BME team selection.

Secondly, the AA High-Performance Meets provide an opportunity for the AA Paralympic Program to showcase our Paralympic Event Groups.

Each Paralympic Event Group will focus on one key HP meet annually. Please see the AA competition calendar for the HP meet schedule.

How do AA select para-athletes to compete at the AA High Performance Meets? What can I do to be considered to compete at these meets?

The AA High Performance Meets are entered via invitation. Invitations to compete at the AA High Performance Meets are at the discretion of the Paralympic Program Manager and Head of High-Performance systems in consultation with Event Group Coaches. Athletes eligibility will be considered based on the below information:

1. Paralympic Pathway event/classes only.
2. Discretionary selections will take into consideration athletes performances since the beginning of the current BME selection policy.
3. Where there is a limit to the field size, priority will be based on an athlete’s ability to medal at the current BME.

Invited athletes will include, in priority order:

1. NASS athletes
2. Those on the Paralympic Pathway (inclusive of World Championships Disciplines) showing likelihood of achieving the current BME nomination standards.
3. Athletes identified by Event Group Coaches as having potential to make a team in the next 1-3 years.

We encourage coaches and athletes to reach out to the Event Group Coaches to discuss where you currently sit on the Paralympic Pathway and how to get more involved.

INTERNATIONAL

What international competition opportunities are available to Paralympic Pathway Athletes?

We currently feel the best opportunities to compete against the best in the world is to get to meets across Australia, and find quality squads to train with.

While there are several Grands Prix and other Para events around the world, guaranteeing a quality field can be difficult.

We acknowledge the need for athletes to be able to travel and compete well when it counts and will look to put on touring opportunities for the appropriate Pathway groups in some form in the future.

The international competition opportunities for Paralympic Pathway athletes are developing as the Paralympic movement grows internationally. We will keep looking for quality, event group specific opportunities for both Pathway and HP athletes.

If athletes wish to attend any of the WPA Grand Prix, they can do so at their own cost – however entrants must have an international Paralympic committee (IPC) license, international classification, and be entered via their NSO (Athletics Australia).

Please visit the WPA Grand Prix calendar for further information.

KEY CONTACTS

ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA

craig.pickering@athletics.org.au

adam.didyk@athletics.org.au

classification@athletics.org.au

highperformance@athletics.org.au

competitions@athletics.org.au

EVENT GROUP COACHES

Who are the event group coaches, what do they do and how do I contact them?

The Event Group Coaches are positioned to lead Paralympic Pathway specific activities, programs and teams for their respective event groups.

We encourage personal coaches to contact our Event Group Coaches to discuss athlete progress and season planning and/or personal/professional development opportunities.

These coaches are also personal coaches to many of Australia’s elite Para Athletes tasked with winning medals at the major BME’s. These coaches are uniquely placed and have a wealth of experience of Para Athletics internationally with respect to classification, and what it takes to win on the world stage. 

sebastian.kuzminski@athletics.org.au

MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

DISABILITY SPORTS ORGANISATIONS

Blind Sports Australia

(athletes with a visual impairment)

Short Statured Sport Australia

(athletes of short stature)

Deaf Sport Australia

(athletes with a hearing impairment)

Sports Inclusion Australia

(athletes with an intellectual impairment)