Para Climbing
Paralympic Climbing competitions include lead climbing where athletes compete through qualifying and final rounds. Para Climbing is open to athletes with physical and vision impairments.
Coordination Impairments
Athletes with a Coordination Impairment have one or more of the following three movement disorders that adversely affects the ability to voluntarily produce a full range of skilled movement fluidly, rapidly, and accurately:
- Hypertonia/Spasticity: an increase in muscle tension that may be velocity-dependent and/or a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch.
- Motor Ataxia: limited precision in direction and velocity of voluntary movement.
- Dyskinesia (Athetosis, Dystonia, Chorea): involuntary movements that interfere with voluntary movements.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions that can lead to coordination impairments include Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Impaired Muscle Power
Athletes with Impaired Muscle Power have a reduced (or no) ability to contract their muscles to generate force that is consistent with an Underlying Health Condition affecting the structure and function of the central or peripheral nervous system or the muscles.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions leading to impaired muscle power include: spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome, and spina bifida.
Impaired Passive Range of Movement
Athletes with Impaired Passive Range of Movement have a reduced ability for a joint to be passively moved that is consistent with an Underlying Health Condition affecting a structure of bones, joints, connective tissue, or soft tissues.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions leading to impaired passive range of motion include: arthrogryposis and contracture resulting from chronic joint immobilization or trauma affecting a joint.
Limb Deficiency and/or Limb Length Difference
Athletes with Limb Deficiency or Limb Length Difference have a total or partial absence of a limb or anatomically irregular limb dimensions that are consistent with an Underlying Health Condition resulting from trauma (traumatic amputation), illness (example: amputation due to bone cancer), or congenital causes affecting the bones and/or joints (example: dysmelia).
This impairment group can be further divided into the following sub-categories:
- Limb deficiency
- Leg length difference and/or
- Arm length difference
Vision Impairment
Athletes with Vision Impairment have an Underlying Health Condition affecting the structure or function of the eye, optic nerve, optic chiasm, post chiasma visual pathways, or visual cortex of the brain resulting in reduced or no visual function even when using the best possible refractive or optical correction.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions leading to vision impairments include retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy.
Short Stature
Athletes with Short Stature have reduced total body length (including head, trunk, and legs) as a results of congenitally or developmentally reduced length of the bones of the upper and lower limbs (and may also have reduced trunk length).
Athletes will not be considered to have Short Stature if their reduced total body length is the result of Limb Deficiency or Limb Length Difference only.
Examples of an underlying health condition that can lead to Short Stature include achondroplasia, growth hormone dysfunction, and osteogenesis imperfecta.
Entering The Pathway
USA Climbing Member Portal, opens in a new tabThe best way to get started in para climbing is to start by connecting with your local climbing gym and becoming a member of USA Climbing.
Athletes interested in para climbing can reach out to Para National Team Head Coach, Emmett Cookson, who can share active programs within an athlete's area. Athletes can reach him at ecookson@usaclimbing.org.
Equipment
At minimum, athletes will need the following equipment to compete in para climbing:
- Climbing harness
- Climbing shoes
- Chalk bag
Most climbing gyms will be able to rent out equipment to athletes as they first get in to para climbing.
Para Climbing offers National Classification in conjunction with the Para Climbing National Championships. See below for how to get classified in Para Climbing as well as the different classifications in Para Climbing.
Physical Impairments
Physical Impairment Medical Diagnosis Form, opens in a new tabTo secure a national physical impairment classification appointment at Nationals, an athlete must fill out a Physical Impairment Medical Diagnostics Form
- Athletes will then need to log in to their USA Climbing Member Portal and upload their MDF through their portal account.
- Classifiers will review the athlete's documents for completeness and will be notified if additional documents are needed.
- Once the MDF is reviewed, athletes will be notified if they are eligible and if their appointment is confirmed for Nationals.
Vision Impairments
National Vision Impairment MDF, opens in a new tabFor National Classification for vision impairments, classifiers will review submitted VI Medical Diagnostics Forms ahead of the Para Climbing National Championships, there is no in person classification.
- Athletes will need to submit a completed VI Medical Diagnostic Form to their USA Climbing member portal account.
- Athletes will be notified if any additional documentation is required.
- VI classifiers will review the athlete's documents and relay the outcome to the athlete.
Limb Impairment Classes
AU2-AU3 and AL1-AL2: Athletes in these classes have some form of limb impairment including both unilateral and bilateral upper and lower limb impairments.
- AU2: Athletes with one upper limb that has reduced function below the elbow and does not have a functional wrist joint.
- AU3: Athletes with one hand or multiple digits in both hands are absent or have reduced function.
- AL1: Athletes have bilateral lower limb impairments including reduced function or amputation.
- AL2: Athletes have a single leg impairment or have a leg length difference.
Range and Power Impairment Classes
RP1-RP3: Athletes in these classes have mild to severe impairments across all eligible impairment types to the trunk and/or limbs.
- RP1: Athletes with severe impairments to function affecting at least 2 limbs or a single upper limb is absent or has severely limited use.
- RP2: Athletes with moderate impairments to function affecting the trunk and/or limbs.
- RP3: Athletes with mild impairments to function affecting the trunk and/or limbs.
Vision Impairment Classes
B1-B3: Athletes with severe vision impairments compete with a blindfold for fairness and utilize a verbal guide that provide directions. Athlete with vision impairments are grouped into the following classes:
- B1: Athletes with a very low visual acuity.
- B2: Athletes with a higher visual acuity than B1 athletes and/or have a visual field of less than 10 degrees.
- B3: Athletes with the least severe vision impairments.
Climbing Gym Locator
Find a Gym, opens in a new tabFind a climbing gym near you and get started in your climbing journey!
Event Finder
Para Climbing Events, opens in a new tabView the full lists of Para Climbing evets for 2026 and start competing!
Selection Procedures
Team Selection Procedures, opens in a new tabView the selection procedures for the Para Climbing National Team to learn more about high-performance in Para Climbing.