Swimming

What is Para-Swimming?

Male and female participants compete in events comprising of the four strokes, freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly as well as the medley events. Competitors compete in classifications based on their functional ability to execute the strokes. Swimming is an inclusive event anyone with a physical, intellectual or visual disability can participate, however no prostheses or assistive devises are allowed in the pool. Athletes have the choice of a modified start to races which includes optional starting platforms or in water starts. For those athletes with visual impairment there are “tappers” to signal swimmers that they are nearing a pool end wall or finishing a race. For more information about classification see https://www.paralympic.org/swimming/classification

What is Special Olympic Swimming?

Swimming offers a wide array of events that are appropriate for athletes of various ages and ability levels. Swimming training and competitions are available in a variety of strokes and at a variety of levels.

Swimming events:

• Freestyle Events: 25M, 50M, 100M, 200M, 400M
• Backstroke Events: 25M, 50M, 100M, 200M
• Breaststroke Events: 25M, 50M, 100M, 200M
• Butterfly Events: 25M, 50M, 100M, 200M
• Individual Medley Events: 100M, 200M
• Freestyle Relay Events: 4 x 25M, 4 x 50M, 4 x 100M
• Medley Relay Events: 4 x 50M