Swimming is one of the original Paralympic sports started at the 1960 Summer Paralympics, and is still contested.

Classification

In swimming, there are ten sport classes which range between physical impairment (such as paraplegia and blindness). Class Criteria Notable swimmers (with their medals) Swimming events under categoryS1 Swimmers have a significant loss of power or control in legs, arms and hands. Some athletes may also have limited trunk control. This could be caused by tetraplegia, polio or similar disabilities. Swimmers who are in this class use a wheelchair in daily life. (2-1-1) 50 metre freestyle 50 metre backstroke 100 metre freestyleS2/SB2 Swimmers in this sport class mainly rely on their arms for swimming. Their hand, trunk and leg function is limited due to tetraplegia or other co-ordination problems. (6-9-2) (6-1-3) 50 metre backstroke 50 metre breaststroke 50 metre freestyle 100 metre freestyle 200 metre freestyleS3/SB2/SM3 This sport class includes swimmers who have arm and/or leg amputations. Swimmers with reasonable arm strokes but no use of their legs or trunk and have severe co-ordination problems in all limbs are included in this sport. (2-2-2) 50 metre backstroke 50 metre breaststroke 50 metre freestyle 100 metre freestyle 200 metre freestyle 150 metre individual medleyS4/SB3/SM4 Swimmers who can use their arms and have fair function in their hands but who cannot use their trunk or legs. Athletes with amputations of three limbs are allowed to swim in this sport. (15-3-2) (6-5-2) 50 metre backstroke 50 metre butterfly 50 metre freestyle 100 metre breaststroke 100 metre freestyle 200 metre freestyle 150 metre individual medleyS5/SB4/SM5 Swimmers with short stature and an additional impairment with loss of control over one side of their body (hemiplegia) or with paraplegia. (8-3-4) (20-5-0) 50 metre backstroke 50 metre butterfly 50 metre freestyle 100 metre freestyle 200 metre freestyle 200 metre individual medleyS6/SB5/SM6 Similar to S5 but have amputations of both arms and have moderate co-ordination problems on one side of their body. Competitors who have dwarfism compete in this class. (7-3-2) (2-5-3) 50 metre butterfly 50 metre freestyle 100 metre backstroke 100 metre breaststroke 100 metre freestyle 400 metre freestyle 200 metre individual medleyS7/SB6/SM7 This class is for swimmers who have one arm and one leg amputation or paralysis on opposite sides. Moreover, swimmers with full control over arms and trunks and some leg function can compete in this class. (11-4-1) (14-5-0) 50 metre butterfly 50 metre freestyle 100 metre backstroke 100 metre breaststroke 100 metre freestyle 400 metre freestyle 200 metre individual medleyS8/SB7/SM8 Swimmers who have an amputation of one arms are eligible to compete in this sport class. Also, swimmers with significant restrictions across hip, knee and ankle joints could compete. (13-6-4) 50 metre freestyle 100 metre backstroke 100 metre breaststroke 400 metre freestyle 200 metre individual medleyS9/SB8/SM9 Swimmers who have joint restrictions in one leg or double below-the-knee amputations such as cerebral palsy and dystonia. (13-7-3) (13-2-0) 50 metre freestyle 100 metre backstroke 100 metre breaststroke 100 metre butterfly 100 metre freestyle 400 metre freestyle 200 metre individual medleyS10/SB9/SM10 Swimmers who have minimal physical impairments, for example the loss of one hand or a movement restriction in one hip joint. (9-5-6) (13-4-8) 50 metre freestyle 100 metre backstroke 100 metre breaststroke 100 metre butterfly 100 metre freestyle 400 metre freestyle 200 metre individual medleyS11/SB11/SM11 Swimmers who have very low acuity and/or no light perception. (5-9-7) (3-4-1) 50 metre freestyle 100 metre backstroke 100 metre butterfly 100 metre freestyle 400 metre freestyleS12/SB12/SM12 Swimmers who have higher visual acuity than athletes in the S11 class and/or a visual field of less than 5 degrees radius. (7-0-2) (8-0-0) 50 metre freestyle 100 metre backstroke 100 metre breaststroke 100 metre butterfly100 metre freestyle 400 metre freestyle 200 metre individual medleyS13/SB13/SM13 Swimmers who have the least severe visual impairment, for example albinism. They have the highest visual acuity and/or a visual field of less than 20 degrees radius. (4-4-2) (7-6-0) 50 metre freestyle 100 metre backstroke 100 metre breaststroke 100 metre butterfly 400 metre freestyle 200 metre individual medleyS14/SB14/SM14 Swimmers who have an intellectual impairment, for example autism and other learning disabilities, which typically leads to athletes having difficulties with regards to pattern recognition, sequencing and memory or having a slower reaction time which can impact on sport performance in general. Moreover, these classed swimmers show a high number of strokes relative to their speed than other able-bodied elite swimmers. / (6-3-0) 100 metre breaststroke 100 metre butterfly 200 metre freestyle 200 metre individual medley

Events Paralympic swimmers participate in four different lengths: 50 metre, 100 metre, 150 metre (SM3 individual medley events) 200 metre and 400 metre (individual medley events). In the beginning of the Paralympic Games, they competed in three lengths: 25 metre, 50 metre and 75 metre events, 25 metre and 75 metre events were abolished in the 1988 Summer Paralympics. See also Paralympic swimming List of Paralympic records in swimming List of Olympic medalists in swimming

References

External links World Para Swimming