Paralympic Swimming

Sport Summary:

Since the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960, Swimming has been one of the main sports of the Paralympics.

As in the Olympic Games, competitors measure their skills in Freestyle, Backstroke, Butterfly, Breaststroke and Medley events.

Swimming is open to both male and female competitors having either a physical disability or blindness/visual impairment. Athletes are classified based on their functional ability to perform each stroke.

The International Swimming Federation (FINA) rules are followed with a few modifications, such as optional platform or in-water starts for some races and the use of signals or ‘tappers’ for swimmers with blindness/visual impairment; however, no prostheses or assistive devices are permitted.

Paralympic Events being contested at Beijing 2008:

Freestyle:

  • 50m
  • 100m
  • 200m
  • 400m
  • 4X50m
  • 4X100m

Backstroke:

  • 50m
  • 100m

Breaststroke:

  • 50m
  • 100m

Butterfly

  • 50m
  • 100m

Individual Medley

  • 150m
  • 200m

Medley Relay

  • 4X100m

Click here to view the nomination criteria for the 2008 Paralympic Team

Rules & Equipment:

Swimming suits:

The clothing for swimmers is a bathing suit. It is forbidden for athletes to use anything that may aid the swimmers speed, buoyancy, or endurance.

Other equipment:

Swimming caps and protective eye-goggles are permitted. The goggles protect the swimmers' eyes as well as improving their vision in the water.

Classification:

Athletes with a visual impairment are classified into three classes, according to the degree of vision loss: S11 for athletes with no sight to class S13 for legally blind.

In the case of swimmers with a physical disability, classification is based on several factors ie, muscle strength, movement co-ordination, joint range of movement and/or limb length.

The swimmers are also required to perform a practical water session, performing all strokes and accordingly assessed on their ability.

The higher the number of the class, the lower the disability, eg, class 1 is for athletes with a severe disability and class 10 for athletes with a minimal disability.

Click here for a more detailed explanation of swimming classification.

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