Four Decades of Inclusion and Opportunity On Track – The Story of Virtus Athletics
For more than 40 years, Virtus has built a global movement where athletes with an intellectual disability can compete, excel and belong. At the heart of this journey is athletics – the largest sport in the Virtus programme – covering outdoor track and field, indoor athletics, cross country, road racing and the marathon.
Together, these disciplines provide a complete competition pathway for athletes of all abilities, across every environment and every stage of their sporting journey.
Since its earliest competitions in the 1980s, Virtus recognised athletics as one of the most accessible and inclusive sports. What began with traditional track and field events soon grew into a comprehensive athletics programme that reflects the full diversity of the sport.
Over the years, Virtus introduced Outdoor World Championships, Indoor Championships, Cross Country Championships, and road racing events, including the half-marathon, 10K and marathon. This expansion has allowed athletes with an intellectual disability to compete across the same range of disciplines as athletes in mainstream athletics.
A Legacy of International Competition
Athletics has been central to the Virtus movement since the organisation was founded. It has grown from standalone championships into one of the flagship sports at every Global Games edition.
Initially, competition was available for athletes in the II1 category. At the Brisbane 2019 Global Games, athletes in the II2 class (athletes with an intellectual disability and significant additional impairments, such as Down syndrome) were added to the medal programme. This was followed by the introduction of the II3 class for athletes with autism at the 2023 Virtus Global Games in Vichy, France, creating even more opportunities for athletes to compete at the highest level.
Athletics made its Paralympic debut at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, alongside swimming and basketball. Today, athletes compete in the T20 400m and 1500m, and the F20 long jump and shot put events, showcasing the highest level of performance on the Paralympic stage.
Over the past four decades, Virtus has organised an impressive international competition calendar, including 12 Outdoor World Athletics Championships, 12 Indoor World Athletics Championships, 10 World Cross Country Championships and 11 World Half Marathon and 10K Championships.
These events have been hosted across Europe, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, bringing together athletes from an ever-growing number of nations and continually raising the standard of competition. Throughout its history, Virtus Athletics has provided consistent international competition opportunities, helping athletes develop, gain experience and prepare for success on both the Virtus and Paralympic stages.
Inspiring Champions
Virtus Athletics has produced generations of world-class athletes who have inspired millions through their achievements.
Poland’s Barbara Bieganowska-Zając and Karolina Kucharczyk, the USA’s Breanna Clark and Michael Brannigan, Portugal’s Lenine Cunha, India’s Deepthi Jeevanji, Türkiye’s Aysel Önder, Spain’s David Pineda, Malaysia’s Latif Romly, and Ukraine’s Maksym Koval are some of many athletes with an intellectual impairment who have reached the Paralympic podium.
Virtus has also celebrated outstanding champions across II2 and II3 eligibility groups. Athletes including Luca Venturelli (II3) from Italy, Sadie Graham-Mulvaney (II3) from Great Britain, Siarne Davis (II3) from Australia, Hugo Taheny (II2) from Australia, Chiara Zeni (II2) from Italy, and Kai Kameyama (II2) from Japan are some of many athletes who have broken world records, won multiple international titles and helped raise the standard of Virtus Athletics.
Together, these athletes represent far more than medals. They demonstrate the continued growth of athletics across sprinting, middle-distance, endurance and field events, inspiring future generations to believe in what is possible.
Looking Ahead
Virtus Athletics is defined not only by the range of events it offers, but by its commitment to fair competition, athlete-centred support and inclusive pathways across all eligibility groups — including the continued development of the II2 and II3 classes.
Looking ahead, Virtus remains committed to growing the programme further, increasing visibility for athletes across every discipline and expanding opportunities within the Paralympic Games.
As Virtus marks its 40th anniversary, we reflect on how far athletics has come – from those first competitions in the 1980s to a global programme that now spans every discipline the sport has to offer, reaching athletes across dozens of nations and every corner of the world. It is a legacy built not by one person or one moment, but by generations of athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and member organisations who believed that athletes with an intellectual disability deserved a stage worthy of their talent. We thank every one of them for making this programme what it is today. Forty years on, Virtus Athletics continues to create opportunities, inspire excellence and open new pathways for future generations.
If you know someone with an intellectual disability or autism who would like to compete in the Virtus athletics programme, encourage them to contact their national Virtus member organisation, apply for eligibility and begin their journey towards international competition – including the Virtus Global Games Cairo 2027.
