Swimming has featured at every Paralympics since the first Games in 1960.
The Paralympic pool is the same as the Olympic pool measuring 50m in length and 25m wide.
There are 10 lanes but only eight are used in competition.
Race distances range between one length of the pool – 50m - to 8 lengths in the 400
metres and the relay.
Sensitive touch pads are used at either end of each lane to record finishing times.
Athletes compete in freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke, medley and relay events.
Competitors can start the race in various positions including standing or sitting on
or beside the block, or starting in the water, depending on their impairment.
Unlike in athletics, no prosthetics are allowed during competition.
Swimming is open to athletes with a diverse range of impairments. They are categorised
in three groups: Physical impairment.
Visual impairment Intellectual impairment
The physical impairment group is sub-divided into ten classes. Lower numbers indicate a
greater impact on swimming performance.
Visually impaired swimmers have assistance from “tappers” who warn about the approaching
wall and the need to turn or to make certain of a firm contact at the finish.
They are classified S11-13, the lower the number, the greater the loss of vision.
Watch out for those in class S11 – they are required to use blackened goggles in all
their events to ensure fair competition
Different strokes require different skills. For that reason, the sport is subdivided into
S events (for freestyle, backstroke and butterfly) and SB events for breaststroke. SM stands
for the medley events.
Athletes require speed, strength and immense determination to compete at the highest level.