The athletes use specially designed throwing frames for these events. These frames enable the athletes to use the same throwing equipment (javelins, discus, shot etc) as able bodied athletes. The only event unique to wheelchair athletics is the club. In this event a special wooden club is thrown using a technique similar to the discus.

Pentathlon, the most gruelling of events, is a combination of three field and two track events to be completed by the athlete in a single day. The combination of events making up the pentathlon may differ according to the individual athletes category.

Athlete Development:

Our commitment to the development of new athletes and coaches helps the BWAA remain one of the key organisations within the rapidly developing world of disability sport. The BWAA is fully committed to the British Wheelchair Sports Foundation development programme at Stoke Mandeville which each year includes the inter-spinal unit games and the National Junior games.

Our experienced athletes are always present at these events, and are happy to give advice and coaching to all aspiring new athletes. We have an ongoing development programme to nurture new and experienced athletes alike. As athletes progress, they attend European and International events, all of which has to be funded by the BWAA. The BWAA also publish a quarterly newsletter with information about recent competitions, future events, social gatherings and much more.

The BWAA is eager to help and encourage younger wheelchair users to take up athletics, and as such, we can offer information and help with all aspects of disability sport. We have currently competing athletes who joined us at junior level and have come all the way through the ranks, going on to eventually win world championship medals.

The 2004 Paralympics at Athens have helped put disability athletics on the world map, with the GB coming second in the medal standings with 94 medals in all, including an amazing 35 golds. To find out more about disability athletics, and what the BWAA can offer you, just get in touch via e-mail using the links at the bottom of the page.

Classification:

Wheelchair athletics operates a classification system to maintain fairness and set a level playing field for competing athletes. All athletes are given a functional classification based on the neurological level of their injury and the amount of muscle function available to them. They are allocated a classifcation using the ‘F’ (or field) system, from F1 through to F8, and once an athlete is allocated an F category, they will only compete against athletes of a similar function or classification.

Once an athlete is allocated his or her F class, it is very rare for them to be moved to a different class later in life, however, an athlete can have a number of F classifications if they compete in several different events. This F classification system means athletes are only matched against other athletes of equal abilities, so whatever your capabilities, you can be safe in the knowledge that winning a class is within reach for everyone. The F class system means a level playing field in disability sport and fair competition for all participants. Whatever your ability, you can be a winner.