If you meet the eligibility criteria set by the national federation, you can apply to register for an international event through the current procedure at Triathlon Canada. To learn about the eligibility criteria, please contact Triathlon Canada.

Access to the Canadian Paratriathlon Team depends on the athlete’s previous sporting experience. Triathlon Canada seeks to recruit athletes with high-level sporting backgrounds into its parasport stream. If you are a Paralympic athlete from another sport or have participated in elite Para-sport, please contact Triathlon Québec at info@triathlonquebec.org and Triathlon Canada.

There are various subsidies available. Visit the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Parasports Québec websites to see if there are any possibilities. You’ll also find information on the Equipment and Documentation pages in the Paratriathlon section of the Federation website.

You can also check with local authorities and private partners.

No special membership is required to set up a Paratriathlon section. All you need to do is define the terms, objectives and resources of your Paratriathlon section in your club’s statutes.
Training courses and information are available to support you and your coaches. Contact the Federation to have your club added to the list of clubs welcoming paratriathletes.

Triathlon Québec owns and supplies equipment specific to the organization of a paratriathlon event (coloured swimming caps for each category, race numbers, rubber tags for the swim and identification jackets for personal assistants).

There are also various subsidies available. Visit the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Parasports Québec websites to see if there are any possibilities. You can also find information on the Equipment page in the Paratriathlon section.

A technical guide to organizing a Paratriathlon event will be available on the Triathlon Québec 2025 website. This document sets out the facilities that can be provided, as well as recommended human resources.

Quebec-level events are accessible to all types of disability, especially if a classification based solely on mode of locomotion is applied. Thus, athletes with a mental disability are considered triathletes and can also be paratriathletes under Triathlon Quebec’s paratriathlon competition rules, and can therefore take part in Quebec-level events.

However, mental disabilities are not represented in the official disability classes defined by the International Triathlon Federation (World Triathlon) and the International Paralympic Committee. This means that athletes with a mental disability cannot take part in international paratriathlon events.

Quebec-level events are accessible to all types of disability, especially if a classification based solely on mode of locomotion is applied (standing category). However, the deaf and hard-of-hearing are not represented in the official categories regulated by the International Paralympic Committee. They cannot therefore take part in international paratriathlon events.

In theory, it’s not possible to give an answer without the athlete having passed through the classifiers. In any case, taking out a paratriathlon license by mistake will not be detrimental to you, as it is no more or less than a classic license with the mention “paratriathlon”. This will not prevent you from taking part in able-bodied events.

Paratriathletes may be classified according to the simplified classification before the start of paratriathlon events by a member of the Federation. In the event of a paratriathlete being eligible for higher-level events, proper classification must be carried out in accordance with World Triathlon regulations.

Each paratriathlete must be classified in a disability category before taking the start. The International Triathlon Federation (World Triathlon) has established regulations for disability categories. These apply to international paratriathlon events, as well as to Canadian title and selection events, unless otherwise specified.

There are nine classifications defined in the World Triathlon regulations, six of which are eligible for medals.

• PTWC: wheelchair users. Paratriathletes must use a handcycle on the bike course and a racing chair on the running section. Depending on their physical limitations, there are two sub-classes: PTWC1 and PTWC2.
• PTS2: severe disabilities. Amputee athletes may use approved prostheses or other approved support devices in cycling and running events.
• PTS3: considerable disability. In cycling and running events, amputee athletes may use approved prostheses or other approved support devices.
• PTS4: moderate disabilities. In cycling and running events, amputee athletes may use approved prostheses or other approved support devices.
• PTS5: Mild disabilities. In cycling and running events, amputee athletes may use approved prostheses or other approved support devices.
• PTVI: partial or total visual impairment. The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) define sub-categories PTVI1, PTVI2, PTVI3, which include athletes who are totally blind (B1) and partially sighted (B2 and B3). The bike portion is compulsory on a tandem bike, and a guide is required throughout the run.

To make it easier for paratriathletes to participate in Quebec-level events, athlete classification has been simplified by mode of locomotion. The simplified classification allows all paratriathletes wishing to take part in a triathlon to be quickly classified. This simplified classification is based on World Triathlon regulations.

Should a paratriathlete be eligible for higher-level events, a formal classification must be carried out in accordance with World Triathlon regulations.

Here are the simplified categories, by mode of locomotion, used in Quebec-level paratriathlon events:

Consult our coaches’ directory. Many offer the service to paratriathletes.

In all cases, both persons must have a one-day Triathlon Québec membership or be members of the Federation. Payment of registration fees is the responsibility of the organizing committee. Triathlon Québec recommends, but is not obliged, to charge only one registration fee.

Yes, athletes with an intellectual disability can take part in paratriathlon events. Paratriathletes, whatever their disability, must have an annual membership or take out a one-day membership with the Federation.

The various intellectual disabilities are not represented in the official disability classes defined by the International Triathlon Federation (World Triathlon) and the International Paralympic Committee. As a result, athletes with an intellectual disability cannot compete in any international paratriathlon event.

Events where a classification based solely on mode of locomotion can be applied are open to all types of disability.

Theoretically, it is not possible to answer without the athlete having passed through the classifiers. You can consult the Triathlon Québec regulations to find out which official disability classes are eligible for paratriathlon (these are defined by the international triathlon federation, World Triathlon).

Please note that more flexible regulations are applied in Quebec to allow access to athletes whose disability is not taken into account in international regulations (e.g. deaf people, people with mental disabilities, etc.). A classification based solely on mode of locomotion is also applied by Triathlon Québec.

In any case, taking out a “paratriathlon” membership by mistake is not a problem, since it’s a classic membership with the “paratriathlon” mention. This will not prevent you from taking part in competitions.

The guide must provide the same guarantees as the athlete, since he/she practices the same sport. If the guide is not a Triathlon Québec member, he or she must take out a one-day membership when registering for the competition.

We recommend that guides take out a “paratriathlon” membership for the reasons given in the previous question. Guides can specify their “guide” status when joining.

To become a Triathlon Québec member, the athlete, whether disabled or not, must follow the same procedure with the Federation. However, a “paratriathlon” mention will be added to the membership of athletes with a disability.

Athletes with a disability must answer “yes” to the question “Are you a person with a disability?” when applying for membership. Athletes must then specify their disability status using the drop-down menu.

This enables Triathlon Québec to identify paratriathletes and send them paratriathlon-related information. The “paratriathlon” membership is no different from any other membership and offers the same benefits. What’s more, there’s no need to provide any proof of disability, as the “paratriathlon” label is declarative only.

In an ideal world, each paratriathlete is accompanied by his/her own personal assistant. In the event that the paratriathlete is not accompanied by his/her own personal assistant, the organizing committee must provide volunteers to act as personal assistants to paratriathletes needing assistance outside the race (number pick-up, moving, etc.) or during the race (pre-transition zone, transition zone, etc.). The paratriathlete must contact the organizing committee and request this when registering.

Personal assistants are people who help paratriathletes during the transition phases of the event. Each assistant is assigned to a single paratriathlete. In some categories, the use of a personal assistant is prohibited.

For example, a maximum of 1 personal assistant is authorized for the “wheelchair” category. No personal assistant is allowed for the “visual disability” category, since the guide acts as personal assistant. For the “standing”, “bike/chair” and “bike-tricycle” categories, a maximum of 1 personal assistant is allowed. The classification process will determine whether or not a personal assistant is allocated for these categories.

Personal assistants are only allowed to help paratriathletes with the following actions:

• Wearing prostheses or other assistive devices
• Carrying the athlete on and off the handcycle and racing chair
• Removing the athlete’s wetsuit and clothing
• Repairing the bike and assisting the athlete with other equipment in the pre-transition and transition areas or in the wheel change area – Only a guide may assist the athlete he/she is guiding in repairing the tandem
• Storing the bike in the transition area

It is important to know that all personal assistants are subject to the competition rules in force, in addition to any other rules deemed appropriate or necessary by the chief official. Any action taken by a personal assistant to propel paratriathletes may result in disqualification.

All personal assistants must be identifiable. Triathlon Québec will provide them with vests. Vests must be returned at the end of the event.

All personal assistants must be positioned in the transition zone at the assisted athlete’s location. They may not circulate on the course.

In all cases, both persons must have a one-day Triathlon Québec membership or be members of the Federation. Payment of registration fees is the responsibility of the organizing committee. Triathlon Québec recommends, but is not obliged, to charge only one registration fee.

For the loan or rental of tandem and handcycles, please contact the Centre national de cyclisme de Bromont. For the loan or rental of a racing chair, please contact Parasports Québec. André Viger can also provide special equipment.

Visit our Equipment page in the Paratriathlon section for more details.

The guide must provide the same guarantees as the athlete, since he or she is practising the same sport. If the guide is not a member of the Federation, he/she must, like the athlete he/she is guiding, take out a one-day membership when registering for the competition.

Select the “Paratriathlon” filter on the TQ calendar to see all accessible events. Accessible events are those identified by the Federation as complying with the technical organization guide for paratriathlon.

There are no special documents required to take part in an event. Simply register with the organizer in the “Paratriathlon” category. Make sure the course is accessible by visiting the Triathlon Québec calendar (select the “Paratriathlon” filter). All participants must be members of the Federation or take out a one-day membership when registering for the competition.

No. An athlete may not receive outside help during the event, e.g. a spectator helping an athlete repair his/her bike. This will result in automatic disqualification. However, assistance from an official, volunteer or another athlete may be accepted, provided both athletes finish their race, otherwise both are disqualified. For example, an athlete giving an inner tube to another athlete is allowed. Finally, an athlete who has finished his or her race may not help an athlete still in the race, as this would be considered external assistance.

You must wear your race number only when running. It is ideally attached to a running belt or with pins and must be worn at the front.

Here are the minimum ages for each participant according to distance.

• Discovery: 10 years old
• Sprint: 14 years old
• Olympic: 16 years old

The minimum age for sprint distances is 16. To take part in Olympic distances or longer, the minimum age is 18. Youth distances are also available.

Age categories vary according to the type of event. Age categories are calculated according to age on December 31 of the current year.

Youth triathlon

• U5 (4-5 years)
• U7 (6-7 years)
• U9 (8-9 years)
• U11 (10-11 years)
• U13 (12-13 years)
• U15 (14-15 years)

Sprint and Olympic triathlon

Age groups are every 5 years (e.g. 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34).

Provincial long-distance events and duathlon

Age categories are 10 years (e.g. 20-29, 30-39 and so on).

National events and IRONMAN

All national long-distance triathlon and duathlon events have 5-year age categories (e.g. 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34).

Age category is determined according to age on December 31 of the current year.

We advise you to arrive at least 1 h 30 min before your start. This will give you time to familiarize yourself with the transition area and do a good pre-race warm-up.

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An Toute montre, peu importe la marque ou le modèle, présente une marge d’erreur entre 1 % et 3 %.