T38 and CP8 are disability sport classification for disability athletics intended for people with cerebral palsy. It includes people who have coordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis. Runners in this class may appear to have a slight limp when they are running but otherwise have a stride similar to able-bodied runners. Events for this class include 100 meters, 400 meters, 1,500 meters, and the long jump.
Sport
This classification is for disability athletics. This classification is one of seven classifications for athletes with cerebral palsy. Similar classifications are T32, T33, T34, T35, T36, T37 and T38. The T35 to T38 classes are classes for ambulant sportspeople. The Australian Paralympic Committee defines this classification as being for "Minimal hemiplegia, ataxia, diplegia or athetosis. May have minimal co-ordination problems, good balance. Runs and jumps freely." The International Paralympic Committee defined this classification on their website in July 2016 as, "Coordination impairments (hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis)". They then go into more detail saying, "Athletes have clear evidence of hypertonia, ataxia and/or athetosis on physical assessment that will affect running. Co-ordination impairment is mild to moderate and can be in one to four limbs. Co-ordination and balance are typically mildly affected, and overall these athletes are able to run and jump freely."
Disability groups Multiple types of disabilities are eligible to compete in this class. This class includes people who have cerebral palsy, or who have had a stroke or traumatic brain injury.
Cerebral palsy
CP8
In athletic events, CP8 competitors participate T38/F38 classes. In athletics, the form used in racing appears similar to able-bodied competitors, but should have some sort of visible limp. The class participates in jumping events.
Cerebral Palsy-International Sports and Recreation Association defined this class in January 2005 as, "Minimal involvement 27 This class is for the minimally affected diplegic Spasticity Grade 1; hemiplegic Spasticity Grade 1: monoplegic; minimal athetoid/ataxic athlete. According to point 1.2 the athlete must have an obvious impairment of function evident during classification. This athlete may appear to have near normal function when running but the athlete must demonstrate a limitation in function to classifiers based on evidence of spasticity (increased tone), ataxic, athetoid or dystonic movements while performing on the field of play or in training." This is general manifested as spasticity in at least one limb. They are able to freely engage in a number of sport related motions including jumping. They also tend to have good balance and have minimal issues with coordination. People in this class tend to have energy expenditure similar to people without cerebral palsy.
Les Autres People with Les Autres related disabilities also compete in this class because of their hypertonia, ataxia and/or athetosis.
Rules and performance Athletes in this class are not required to use a starting block. It is up to the individual. They have the option to start from a crouch, from a standing position or 3 point stance. In track events, officials are encouraged to avoid keeping these athletes in the starting block too long. Because of their condition, athletes may make movements that normally would disqualify them as a false start. If an official believes movement could be a result of this, they can restart the entire field without disqualifying any runners.
History 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." For the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio, the International Paralympic Committee had a zero classification at the Games policy. 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. In case there was a need for classification or reclassification at the Games despite best efforts otherwise, athletics classification was scheduled for September 4 and September 5 at Olympic Stadium. For sportspeople with physical or intellectual disabilities going through classification or reclassification in Rio, their in competition observation event is their first appearance in competition at the Games.
Events
The class participates in 100 metres, 400 metres, 1,500 metres, and the long jump. They may also participate in the 4 × 100 metres relay with other T35-38 class athletes, however no more than two T38-classified athletes are permitted per relay team.IPC Athletics Rule 23.11 Many events have their own qualifying standards for participation.
+ Qualification standards for the 2016 Summer Paralympics Event Men Women AQS BQS AQS BQS 100 metres 11.85 13.00 14.40 15.80 400 metres 56.55 1:00.00 1:10.00 1:17.00 1500 metres 5:00.00 5:10.00 colspan=2 Long jump 5.00 4.40 4.00 3.75 Discus throw colspan=2 26.50 22.00 Javelin throw 35.00 30.00 colspan=2
genderEventClassAQS/MQSBQSEventmen's100mT3815.52016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipswomen's100mT38172016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipsmen's100mT3800:12.82016 CAIXA Loteria Athletics Open Championshipwomen's100mT3800:18.02016 CAIXA Loteria Athletics Open Championshipmen's100mT3812.52015 IPC Athletics World Championshipswomen's100mT38152015 IPC Athletics World Championshipsmen's100mT3813.12016 IPC Athletics European Championshipshttp://www.britishathletics.org.uk/EasysiteWeb/getresource.axd?AssetID=141874&type=full&servicetype=Attachmentwomen's100mT3815.82016 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen's100mT3813.252014 IPC Athletics European Championshipswomen's100mT3815.82014 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen's100mT3816132016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipsmen's100mT3813.52015 Parapan American Gameswomen's100mT3816.52015 Parapan American Gamesmen's1500mT37/3805:20.02016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipsmen's1500mT3805:00.02015 IPC Athletics World Championshipsmen's1500mT37/3805:10.02016 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen's1500mT37/3805:00.02014 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen's1500mT37/3805:20.004:55.02016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipsmen's1500mT37/3805:10.02015 Parapan American Gamesmen's200mT38312016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipswomen's200mT38372016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipsmen's200mT3825.22015 IPC Athletics World Championshipswomen's200mT38322015 IPC Athletics World Championshipsmen's200mT38272016 IPC Athletics European Championshipswomen's200mT3833.62016 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen's200mT38272014 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen's200mT38312016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipsmen's200mT38272015 Parapan American Gameswomen's200mT38352015 Parapan American Gamesmen's400mT3801:10.02016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipswomen's400mT3801:25.02016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipsmen's400mT3801:00.02016 CAIXA Loteria Athletics Open Championshipwomen's400mT3801:25.02016 CAIXA Loteria Athletics Open Championshipmen's400mT38582015 IPC Athletics World Championshipswomen's400mT3801:10.02015 IPC Athletics World Championshipsmen's400mT3801:05.02016 IPC Athletics European Championshipswomen's400mT3801:19.02016 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen's400mT3801:05.02014 IPC Athletics European Championshipswomen's400mT3801:20.02014 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen's400mT3801:10.001:00.02016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipsmen's400mT381.07.002015 Parapan American Gameswomen's400mT37/3801:20.02015 Parapan American Gameswomen'sT35-38ranking2016 IPC Athletics European Championshipswomen'sT35-38nil2014 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen's800mT37/382.30.002016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipsmen's800mT37/3802:18.02015 IPC Athletics World Championshipsmen's800mT37/3802:30.02016 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen's800mT37/3802:30.02014 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen's800mT37/3802:30.02016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipsmen'sdiscusF3825.00m2016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipswomen'sdiscusF3816.00m2016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipswomen'sdiscusF37/3822.00m2015 IPC Athletics World Championshipswomen'sdiscusF3818.00m2016 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen'sdiscusF37/3837.00m2014 IPC Athletics European Championshipswomen'sdiscusF37/3818.00m2014 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen'sdiscusF3825.00m2016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipswomen'sdiscusF3825.00m2015 Parapan American Gamesmen'sjavelinF3826.00m2016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipsmen'sjavelinF3835.00m2015 IPC Athletics World Championshipsmen'sjavelinF37/3832.00m2016 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen'sjavelinF37/3832.00m2014 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen'sjavelinF3830.00m30.00m2016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipswomen'sjavelinF3820.00m2015 Parapan American Gamesmen'slong jumpT384.00m2016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipswomen'slong jumpT383.60m2016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipsmen'slong jumpT384.72016 CAIXA Loteria Athletics Open Championshipmen'slong jumpT385.00m2015 IPC Athletics World Championshipswomen'slong jumpT383.90m2015 IPC Athletics World Championshipsmen'slong jumpT384.20m2016 IPC Athletics European Championshipswomen'slong jumpT383.60m2016 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen'slong jumpT384.50m2014 IPC Athletics European Championshipswomen'slong jumpT383.50m2014 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen'slong jumpT384.00m4.40m2016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipsmen'slong jumpT384.40m2015 Parapan American Gameswomen'slong jumpT383.50m2015 Parapan American Gamesmen'sshot putF389.00m2016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipswomen'sshot putF385.40m2016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championshipsmen'sshot putF3810.00m2015 IPC Athletics World Championshipsmen'sshot putF389.00m2016 IPC Athletics European Championshipsmen'sshot putF389.00m2014 IPC Athletics European Championshipswomen'sshot putF388.00m2015 Parapan American Games
Governance Classification into this class is handled by the International Paralympic Committee. For national events, classification is handled by the national athletics organization.
Becoming classified Athletes with cerebral palsy or similar impairments who wish to compete in para-athletics competition must first undergo a classification assessment. During this, they both undergo a bench test of muscle coordination and demonstrate their skills in athletics, such as running, jumping or throwing. A determination is then made as to what classification an athlete should compete in. Classifications may be Confirmed or Review status. For athletes who do not have access to a full classification panel, Provisional classification is available; this is a temporary Review classification, considered an indication of class only, and generally used only in lower levels of competition.
Competitors Notable competitors in this class include T38 Australian sprinter Tim Sullivan. At the home hosted 2000 Summer Paralympics, he won three gold medals. Australian athletics competitors in this class include Evan O'Hanlon, Tim Sullivan and Katy Parrish.
References