Para swimming is an adaptation of thesport ofswimming for athletes withdisabilities. Para swimmers compete at theSummer Paralympic Games and at other sports competitions throughout the world. The sport is governed by theInternational Paralympic Committee (IPC). Both men and women compete in para swimming, racing against competitors of their own gender.
In the United States, para swimming is governed byUSA Para Swimming, a division of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). The organization is responsible for developing and supporting para swimmers at all levels, from grassroots programs to the elite international stage. USA Para Swimming works to identify and classify eligible athletes, provide training and coaching resources, and coordinate a national competition calendar that includes local meets, national championships, and international team trials. It plays a critical role in preparing athletes for major events such as the World Para Swimming Championships and the Paralympic Games. The organization also supports talent identification initiatives and works with club and collegiate programs to expand access and opportunities for swimmers with disabilities across the country.[1]
Para swimming made its Paralympic debut at the1960 Summer Olympics games in Rome, featuring 77 athletes from 15 nations competing in 62 medal events.[2][3]At its inception, the sport was limited to athletes with spinal cord injuries. Eligibility expanded in subsequent decades to include a broader range of physical, visual, and intellectual impairments. A major milestone occurred at the Toronto1976 Paralympic Games with the inclusion of events for amputee and visually impaired athletes, significantly increasing participation and the number of events. Swimmers with intellectual impairments were later integrated into competition at the Sydney2000 Paralympic Games.[3] Governance of the sport evolved alongside its development, with early oversight by the International Swimming Training Association for the Paralyzed and eventual formalization under World Para Swimming, a sport-specific division of the IPC.[3][4] Today, para swimming is one of the largest and most globally participated sports in the Paralympic program, known for its “sport-first” approach, inclusivity and competitive depth.[3][4]
Rules for the sport are adapted from those set forth by theInternational Swimming Federation (FINA). Swimmers compete individually inbackstroke,breaststroke,butterfly,freestyle,individual medley, and as teams inrelay races. At the Paralympics, World Championships and other elite level competitions, swimmers compete in anOlympic-size swimming pool.
To ensure fair competition, para swimming uses aclassification system that groups athletes based on the nature and severity of their impairment. While all swimmers follow a standardized set of rules, certain modifications are applied depending on functional ability. For example, significant differences between able-bodied and para swimming include swimmers starting a race by diving from a platform, sitting on the edge, or beginning directly in the water.[5]
Additional adaptations exist for visually impaired swimmers. In events for blind athletes, assistants known as "tappers" use a pole to signal when the swimmer is approaching the wall, indicating when to turn or finish.[6] The use of prostheses or assistive devices is not permitted during competition.[2]
Swimmers are classified according to the type and extent of their disability. The classification system allows swimmers to compete against others with a similar level of ability.
Swimmers with physical disabilities are allocated a category between 1 and 10, with 1 corresponding to the most severe types of disability.Physical disabilities of para swimmers include single or multiple limb loss (throughbirth defects and/oramputation),cerebral palsy,spinal cord injuries (leading to paralysis or disability in limb coordination),dwarfism, and disabilities which impair the use of joints.[7]
Blind and visually impaired swimmers compete within separate categories, being allocated to categories 11, 12 or 13. Category 11 corresponds to totally blind swimmers, while competitors in category 12 have severe but not total visual impairment.[7] Category 11 swimmers compete with blackened goggles to ensure competitors are on an even level. Category 11 swimmers are also required to use tappers but they are optional for categories 12 and 13.[8]
Swimmers with mental disabilities compete in category 14,[7] while deaf and hearing impaired swimmers compete in category 15.[9]
Numbers are combined with a letter prefix depending on the event type. An "S" prefix corresponds tofreestyle,backstroke andbutterfly, while "SB" corresponds tobreaststroke and "SM" to themedley. Hence, a swimmer with severe physical disabilities competing in backstroke may compete in an S3 event, while a blind swimmer in the medley would compete in class SM11.[7]
For relay races, athletes from different classifications compete together, but the sum of their individual classifications must not exceed a given points total. For example, a relay team for a 34 points freestyle relay may consist of two S8 swimmers and two S9 swimmers (9 + 9 + 8 + 8 = 34), or an S10 swimmer and three S8 swimmers (10 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 34)[10]
The classification process typically involves three components:
Physical or technical assessment: A panel of trained classifiers evaluates the athlete’s impairment and how it affects swimming movements.
Observation in training or competition: Classifiers observe the athlete to confirm that their functional ability aligns with the classification.
Final class assignment and review: After initial competition, a swimmer may receive a review status before being assigned a confirmed classification.[11]
Athletes may be reclassified over time if their physical condition changes or if updates to the classification system are implemented.
The goal of classification is to minimize the impact of an athlete's impairment on the outcome of competition, so that success in the pool is determined by skill, training, and tactical ability rather than degree of disability. This ensures that swimmers with similar functional abilities compete against each other, promoting fairness and inclusion across a wide range of physical, visual, and intellectual impairments.
'''British Para-Swimming operates under a UK Sport-funded World Class Programme, which identifies and develops swimmers with the potential to compete at the highest international levels. Athletes can progress through talent identification stages to elite performance groups.
The Manchester Performance Centre serves as the national training hub, providing para-swimmers with access to world-class facilities and resources.[12]'''
'''Athletes receive multidisciplinary support to optimize their performance. British Swimming offers services in strength and conditioning, sports medicine, physiotherapy, psychology, nutrition, and lifestyle management. These services are designed to ensure athletes' holistic development both in and out of the pool.'''
'''British Para-Swimming collaborates with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) to maintain a clean and fair sporting environment. Safeguarding policies are also in place to protect athletes' welfare, ensuring a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all participants.'''
'''The para-swimming competition calendar includes national events, such as the British Para-Swimming International Meet, as well as opportunities to qualify for major international competitions including the World Para Swimming Championships and the Paralympic Games. These events allow athletes to achieve qualification standards and international rankings.'''
The World Series was launched in 2017.[18][19][20][21][22][23]
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2017 World Para Swimming World Series
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2018 World Para Swimming World Series
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2019 World Para Swimming World Series
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2020 World Para Swimming World Series
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2021 World Para Swimming World Series
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2022 World Para Swimming World Series
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