Athletics at the 2016 Summer Paralympics

Athletes are given a classification depending on the type and extent of their disability. The classification system allows athletes to compete against others with a similar level of function.

The athletics classifications are:

• 11–13: Blind (11) and visually impaired (12, 13) athletes
• 20: Athletes with an intellectual disability
• 31–38: Athletes with cerebral palsy; 31-34 for wheelchair events, 35-38 for ambulant (running) events
• 40-41: Les Autres (others) (including people with dwarfism)
• 42–47: Amputees
• 51–58: Athletes with a spinal cord disability

The class numbers were given prefixes of "T" and "F" for track and field events, respectively. High jump and Long jump, while field events, usually attract a "T" classification

Visually impaired athletes classified 11 run with full eye shades and a guide runner; those classified 12 have the option of using a guide; those classified 13 do not use a guide runner. Guide runners are awarded medals alongside their athletes.

On 9 June 2015, the IPC announced the final make up of the Rio 2016 athletics programme. There have been several changes in the programme, including the elimination of triple jump events, and the reduction of events requiring a factoring system, as this was seen to undermine the image of the event as sport.

The following is a summary of all athletics events taking place at the Games:[1]

1,139 athletes from 146 nations competed.

• Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics