The Special Categories section is dedicated to all athletes with mobility impairments and disabilities.

Split into two categories, it gives every athlete the chance to compete under their own standards, which protect them and ensure judging based on specific rules, finally giving them the opportunity to compete.

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Standing

- Athletes with independent mobility
- Judging criteria: Muscle development, muscle tone, muscle quality, definition
- Penalties: emaciation, acne, gynecomastia, distended abdomen, skin blemishes and artificial muscles, for example from synthol use
Scars or injuries are only taken into account if they affect the athlete's overall appearance.
For athletes with injured or missing limbs, the affected part is not judged.

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Wheelchair

- Wheelchair athletes 
- Judging criteria: muscle development, muscle tone, muscle quality, definition, symmetry and proportion of the upper body.
- Penalties: emaciation, acne, gynecomastia, distended abdomen, skin blemishes, artificial muscles such as from synthol use

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Mandatory poses
Front double biceps, front lat spread with hands on hips, side chest, side triceps, back double biceps, back lat spread with hands on hips, front abdominals

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Competition suits
- Standing: regulation bodybuilding or classic suit; shoes or any aid for stability and balance on stage are allowed.
- Wheelchair: competition suits or trousers are allowed