T40 (classification)

T40 is disability sport classification for disability athletics, specifically athletes of short stature. Male athletes under 130 cm (4 ft 3¼ in) and female athletes under 125 cm (4 ft 1¼ in) can compete in this category.

This classification is for disability athletics. Jane Buckley, writing for the Sporting Wheelies, describes the athletes in this classification as: "Dwarf class - achondroplasia or similar J18 years old max height: 145cm (male) 140cm (female)." The Australian Paralympic Committee defines this classification as being for athletes who have the "People with dwarfism due to achondroplasia or a variant of this."

A 2012 International Paralympic Committee Athletics Classification Project report proposed splitting the current T40 classification, with more restrictive T40 eligibility criteria (for shorter or more disproportionate athletes) and a new T41 classification (for athletes at the minimum disability end of the current class). This proposal was ratified in 2013 with the maximum height of T40 athletes <130 cm (male) and <125 cm (female). The International Paralympic Committee defined this classification on their website in July 2016 as, " (Short stature)".

In relay events involving T40s classes, no baton is used. Instead, a handoff takes place via touch in the exchange zone.

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."

In 2010, the IPC announced that they would release a new IPC Athletics Classification handbook that specifically dealt with physical impairments. This classification guide would be put into effect following the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Paralympics. One of these changes was creating a minimum age to compete in this class. Athletes needed to be at least 18 years old to compete. This was to prevent still growing children from competing in this class despite otherwise not having a disability.

...
Wikipedia