TOKYO (AP) — There are 4,403 Paralympic athletes competing in Tokyo, each with unique differences that have to be classified. Lines have to be drawn — in the quest for fairness — to group similar impairments, or impairments that yield similar results. “If we think we can swim or run the same times as everyone else, we feel good being in the class,” Popow said. “To be honest, athletes don’t understand the system,” Popow said. We need to have a classification system overall that everyone understands.”Tea Cisic is the head of classification for the IPC.
