Swimming has been contested at every Summer Paralympics. At the first games, the 1960 Paralympics, 62 swimming events were held in distances of 25 and 50 metres, plus a 3×50 metre relay for men. Since then, swimming at the Paralympics has grown to 140 events covering distances from 50 to 400 metres, plus 4×50 and 4×100 metre relays. Along with track and field athletics, it is one of the largest sports at the Paralympics in terms of the number of events, competitors, and spectators.
As with most Paralympic sports, athletes are classified according to the type and extent of their disability.
The International Paralympic Committee recognizes the fastest times swum at the games as Paralympic records.
Summary GamesYear EventsBest Nation1 1960 69 2 1964 62 3 1968 68 4 1972 56 5 1976 146 6 1980 193 7 1984 347 8 1988 259 9 1992 199 10 1996 168 11 2000 170 12 2004 167 13 2008 141 14 2012 148 15 2016 153 16 2020 146 17 2024 141
Medal table Updated to 2024 Summer Paralympics. Countries in italics are former countries who participated in the Paralympic Games.
Multiple Paralympic swimming medalists This table is updated to the 2016 Paralympics.
Athlete Nation Years active Class(es) Gold Silver Bronze Total 1980 - 2004 B1, B2, B3 41 9 4 54 1984 - 2004 S5 20 5 0 25 1984 - 1992 B3 18 0 0 18 2004 - S8, SB7, SM8 16 8 5 29 1976 - 1988 1A, 1C 16 2 0 18 2012 - S13, SB13, SM13 16 1 1 18 1996 - 2004 SM4, S4, SB3, 20pts 15 3 2 20 2008 - 2016 S5 14 7 6 27 2000 - 2008 S6, S7 14 5 0 19 2004 - 2012 S9 13 7 3 23 1976 - 1992 C1, A3, L4, S8, SM8 13 6 1 20 / 1988 - 2004 L6, SM10 13 4 8 25 2004 - 2012 S9 13 2 0 15 1984 - 1992 B1, B2 13 2 0 15 1976 - 1988 6 12 1 2 15 2008 - S10, SB9, SM10, S9, SM9 11 7 1 19 2000 - 2008 S7 11 4 1 16 1972 - 1988 ? 10 4 5 19 1984 - 1988 B1 10 3 0 13 1992 - 2000 B3? 10 2 5 17 1972 - 1976 5 10 0 0 10 1988 - 2000 S12? 9 5 1 15 1992 - 2000 S8 9 3 4 16 2008 - 2012 SM7, S7, S8, 34pts 8 0 3 11 2000 - 2008 S9 7 8 2 17 2000 S14 6 0 0 6
Nations Nations 15 13 24 33 34 36 43 44 56 50 62 61 62 66 79 Competitors 77 98 264 279 362 441 541 502 487 457 575 560 547 600 593
See also Swimming at the Summer Olympics World Para Swimming Championships
References