Eligibility
In order to compete in fencing at the Paralympic Games athletes must compete while sitting in a wheelchair. Athletes who have had a spinal cord injury (quadriplegic and paraplegic), athletes with lower leg amputations, athletes with cerebral palsy and athletes with other physical disabilities which require the use of a wheelchair are all eligible to compete in wheelchair fencing.
Classification
There are three classes:
- Class A incorporates those athletes with good balance and recovery and full trunk movement
- Class B those with poor balance and recovery but full use of one or both upper limbs
- Class C athletes with severe physical impairment in all four limbs