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The article describes some of the equipment used in wheelchair sports. Physically handicapped athletes can use customized throwing chairs designed for wheelchair sports. Athletes use seat belts and leg straps to keep their bodies in place so they will not be disqualified for touching the ground. They use tie-down straps and anchor pins to stabilize the throwing chair.

The article focuses on physically handicapped athletes. Wheelchair field athletes train all year. Wheelchair athletes are divided into eight classes, including quadriplegics and paraplegics. People with temporary disabilities are not allowed to enter wheelchair field events.

The article describes how field athletes compete in wheelchair sports. The shot put is a heavy, round object made of hard metal that the wheelchair athlete pushes toward the throwing area. The discus is made of wood with a metal rim and is thrown through the air like a Frisbee. The javelin is a metal spear with a pointed tip that must stick in the ground when it lands, or the throw is disqualified. The club throw is done with an object that looks like a bowling pin.

The article focuses on the history of field events and wheelchair sports. Wheelchair sports programs began in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain during the 1940s. Sir Ludwig Guttmann created the first international wheelchair games, which in 1960 became known as the Paralympic Games.

The article provides information on sports events for disabled people. Wheelchair athletes perform field events while seated because they cannot walk or stand due to spinal cord or other injuries. They can participate in shot put, the discus, the javelin, and the club throw events.

The article focuses on wheelchair athletes who are road racers. Some racers are paraplegics or people who have lost one or both legs due to amputation. Wheelchair racers are divided into four classes, including quadriplegics. Some athletes train on bicycle trails, while others lift weights to strengthen the upper part of their bodies. Jean Driscoll won the Boston Marathon seven times in a row.

The article describes the race course, a route that can include hills and curves. Wheelchair racers must stay on the course at all times and use equipment approved by the organization that governs the race. They start before the runners, must pass each other safely, and can use drafting to reduce air resistance.

The article provides information on wheelchair road racing. There are two kinds of wheelchair races, track races and road races. Many runners and wheelchair racers belong to clubs. The best wheelchair athletes can win thousands of dollars in prize money.

The article lists books about wheelchair sports and athletes. 'Track and Field: How to Play the All-Star Way,' by Bert Rosenthal. 'Wheelchair Champions,' by Harriet May Savitz. 'Track and Field,' by David Smale. 'So Get on with It: A Celebration of Wheelchair Sports,' by Marilee Weisman and Jan Godfrey. 'Sports 'N' Spokes' magazine.

The article defines words used in this book about wheelchair sports. Classifier is a specially trained doctor who works with disabled athletes. Paralympic Games are sports contests like the Olympic Games for athletes with disabilities. Paraplegic is a person who has little or no ability to move the lower part of the body. Quadriplegic is a person who has limited ability to move the upper and lower parts of the body. Other definitions.

The article shows a wheelchair athlete preparing to throw a javelin and points out the cord grip on the javelin, plus the anchor pins and tie-down straps to hold the wheelchair steady.

The article lists Internet sites for organizations offering information about wheelchair sports. Web sites for the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association, University of Illinois Wheelchair Sports, Wheelchair Racing Resource Page, and the Jean Driscoll Story.

The article lists mailing addresses for organizations offering information about wheelchair sports. Wheelchair Sports USA. Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association. Mexican Wheelchair Sport Program.